CCJP says 50:50 campaign in Chitipa successful

Catholic Commission for  Justice and Peace (CCJP) of the Karonga Diocese has described the 50:50 Campaign implemented in Chitipa as successful.

Speaking during the round-up of roadshow campaigns in Nthalire, the commission’s Chitipa district desk officer Abel Malumbila said unlike the previous elections in 2014 which had only five female candidates, this year the district produced 15 candidates contesting for parliamentary and ward councillor seats.

He said: “Through the 50:50 initiative in Chitipa, we have seen four female aspiring members of Parliament [MPs] and 11 aspiring councillors and this is a good development.

“We conducted awareness campaigns and sensitised people in the district to the need to vote for female candidates.”

During the just- ended term, Chitipa had no female MP or councillor.

In her remarks, a female aspiring MPs for Chitipa South Constituency Chimango Mughogho commended CCJP for the initiative, saying the awareness campaigns have changed the mindset of communities to consider women as equal to men.

The campaign was funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Malawi through the 5050 Campaign Management Agency.