Peter Mwanza to stand as councillor

Former Malawi minister of Agriculture and Food Security Peter Mwanza has offered himself to stand as Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) councillor for Masasa East Ward in Mzuzu.

Mwanza, a sitting MP for Mzuzu City, enjoyed ministerial positions during the reign of former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika.

He worked for the United Nations (UN) and later became Mzuzu University vice-chancellor before joining politics.

Mwanza was also retained in President Joyce Banda’s Cabinet as Minister of Agriculture and Food Security before he was fired last year.

Speaking during a press briefing on Friday in Mzuzu, Mwanza said he decided to stand as councillor because he made a commitment to serve as MP for only five years.

He added that being an MP was never his wish.

He said people forced him to contest in 2009.

Mwanza said his dream to stand as councillor has been influenced by the passion he has for Mzuzu City. He said he wants to see Mzuzu prosper in developments.

He said he wants to see big investors come to Mzuzu, adding he has already been in touch with a number of them who have shown interest to invest in the city.

“When I retired at Mzuni, I retired because I reached the retirement age. I did not want to be an MP, but people were pressurising to be one.

“Because of the experience and contacts I have I thought maybe it would be proper to give in to people’s demands and I became the MP,” he said.

DPP regional governor (North) Kenneth Sanga said Mwanza has always been DPP and when he expressed interest to stand as councillor the party honoured his quest.