NGOs fire up female aspirants

Dan Church Aid, in partnership with Women’s Legal Resource Centre, have advised female aspirants for ward councillor and member of Parliament (MP) positions in Rumphi and Mzimba districts to start preparing now.

The advice follows poor performance of female candidates in May 2019 Tripartite Elections in the country.

In an interview, Dan Church Aid programmes manager Wezzie Masimbe said they want to see more women elected in public positions.

“We are working with 26 female aspirants who have expressed interest to contest in the 2025 Tripartite Elections as parliamentarians and councillors in Mzimba and Rumphi districts,” she said.

NdaonaPhiri, from Mzimba, said she wants to contest as an MP for Mzimba North Constituency.

“I want to serve people as a parliamentarian. I am engaging different stakeholders to know how I can prepare for the election,” she said.

Another female aspirant, Blessed Chavula, from Rumphi Central Constituency, said people should not view women as underperformers.

“Women too are development-conscious. This is why I want to contest for a parliamentary seat in 2025,” she said.

Dan Church Aid and Wolrec are implementing a Young Women Active Politics Project in the two districts with support from the European Union.