Acting Nasinu Town Council chief executive and board chairman Felix Magnus has called on residents to start ward-level conversations ahead of municipal elections confirmed for September 2023 by Supervisor of Elections Ana Mataiciwa, marking the end of a gap of more than two decades since the last local government vote in the township.
Magnus said the council is moving into a new phase of preparations and that community awareness must be prioritised to ensure an informed turnout. “When you look at the last local government elections that were held in 2005, and you think of the people that will be voting in this local government election, these voters have no idea what local government election is all about,” he said, urging ward committees and residents to begin exchanges about the purpose and mechanics of local-level voting.
The acting CEO stressed that targeted awareness at ward level is essential because many eligible voters have never experienced a town council election and may not understand how local governance affects everyday services and development in Nasinu. He described voter education as “a lot of awareness that needs to be carried out in the wards” and encouraged community leaders to organise discussions so electors can make informed choices.
Magnus also pressed residents to identify and nominate capable leaders from within their wards who could represent local interests on the town council. He framed ward-driven candidate selection as a safeguard against decisions being imposed by outsiders, saying the council should be “given the full autonomy, so that the people of the township make decisions for their own towns that they feel is right for their townships.”
The appeal comes as Nasinu prepares to re-establish a democratically elected local body after the long absence of municipal polls. Magnus said strong ward participation in candidate selection and voter education will help ensure councillors reflect “the interests and aspirations of the people of Nasinu” and avoid repeating past mistakes when decisions were perceived as disconnected from local needs.
Supervisor Ana Mataiciwa’s confirmation of the September election date sets the broad timeline, but specifics on nomination windows, voter registration drives, and polling arrangements are yet to be detailed publicly. Magnus indicated the council will be relying on ward-level mobilisation to bridge the information gap until electoral authorities announce operational details.
With municipal elections on the horizon, Magnus urged Nasinu communities to act now: discuss what local government does, identify potential candidates, and organise at the ward level so the township can take an active role in shaping its local governance for the years ahead.
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