50:50 campaign successful —Pacenet
The Pan African Civic Educators Network (Pacenet) has described as a success the campaign to mobilise support for female candidates participating in the May 20 Tripartite Elections.
The network executive director Steven Duwa made the assertion after attending whistle-stop tours conducted by female candidates in Dedza, Chiradzulu, Machinga and Mulanje districts this week.
“After assessing the situation on the ground, what is coming out clear is that influential community leaders such as chiefs have embraced the [gender] concept and female leadership. This gives us hope that quite a substantial number of female candidates will secure seats in Parliament as well as district councils in the elections,” said Duwa.
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) aspiring member of Parliament for Dedza East, Juliana Lunguzi, told the media after addressing nine whistle-stop tours of the constituency that the campaign has propped up the support she already enjoyed in the constituency.
Lunguzi, who faces another female contender from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Hyacinth Chikaonda, expressed optimism that she will make it to Parliament.
Several group village heads (GVHs) in Traditional Authority (T/A) Kachindamoto pledged support for female candidates, arguing women are less corrupt and development conscious.
“My subjects and I have already decided to vote for female candidates so that our areas can realise meaningful socio-economic transformation after May 20,” said Dziko who is one of the GVHs.
Pacenet is implementing the 50:50 gender parity campaign with financial support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy through the NGO Gender Coordination Network.
