Njawala misses parliamentary debate

Former Blantyre Kabula parliamentarian Felix Njawala on Saturday missed out at a National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust debate for the area’s parliamentary aspirants at South Lunzu CCAP Church in Machinjiri.

Njawala, who is contesting as an independent candidate, was the only absentee among other candidates, Fanny Banda of the National Salvation Front (Nasaf), People’s Party’s Jean Kamphale, Malawi Congress Party’s Kingsley Mponda, Democratic Progressive Party’s  Gertrude Nankhumwa, United Democratic Front’s Jan-Jaap Sonke and independents Jarid Ishmael, Rashid Gaffar and Miguel Elias.

However, Njawala said he could not attend because he was keeping the Sabbath, being an Adventist.

“I asked Nice to shift the dates since I observe the Sabbath. They said that could not happen since they target weekends when most of the people are free. I can’t break the Sabbath because of politics,” said Njawala.

The candidates debated on what they have on their plate for the constituents in terms of development and other issues, including whether they would vote for homosexuality in Parliament.

Nice Trust Blantyre urban district civic education officer Bowlanda Monjeza said the debates are organised to bring the parliamentary candidates closer to the people.

“Before they go to vote, it is the people’s rights to know their candidates so that they choose the right people,” said Monjeza.