By Joel Phiri

Mzimba, September 8, Mana: Women's Legal Resource Centre (WOLREC) Programme Manager, Charity Mazengela said the organization in partnership with Oxfam Malawi intends to drum up support for female, youths and people with disabilities who intend to contest on various political positions in the 2025 General Election.

Briefing various political party representatives on Monday in Mzimba during a meeting which Women's Legal Resource Centre (WOLREC) and Oxfam Malawi organised, Mazengela said the initiative will be supported by European Union (EU) funded Demokalase Yokomela Aliyense Project.

"We will through the project among other things provide a wide range of assistance to the targeted groups, including transport during the campaign period but this will be meant for candidates who would have paid for nomination fees themselves,” said Mazengela.

Gender Officer for Mzimba, Naomi Mwale hailed Worlec and Oxfam Malawi for the initiative saying the district has low numbers of women, youth and people with disabilities representation in elected positions.

"Out of eleven Members of Parliament (MPs) we only have two female MPs while out of 22 ward councillors, we have only two female councillors.

We hope the Demokalase Yokomela Aliyense Project will assist many female aspirants come out to contest for various position come 2025 General Elections,” said Mwale.

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Councillor for Manyamula Ward, Kefasi Chisi challenged female political aspirants to develop robust campaign manifestos that should attract potential voters.

“We should come up with brilliant manifestos and speak and develop public speaking skill so that we face potential voters with confidence when the campaign begins,” said Chisi.

She said most female aspirants shy away from competing with men and that this counteracts strives to achieve of 50/50 representation in different political and development fora.

United Transformation Movement aspirant councillor for Perekezi Ward, Loveness Kanyinji touted the initiative for pledging to support under privileged political aspirants in different forms.

"To be frank, political campaign is expensive and our hope as budding political aspirants is on the project’s support," said Kanyinji.