Haroon Mia to contest as independent in Chikhwawa Mkombedzi
The retirement of former Peoples Party (PP) vice president for the south, Mohammad Sidik Mia from active politics has prompted his cousin, Haroon Mia to stand under independent ticket for parliamentary seat of Chikhwawa Mkombedzi ahead of the forthcoming tripartite elections.
In an exclusive interview on Friday soon after presenting his nominations paper to the Malawi Electoral Commission, Haroon Mia said he is standing because he want to continue from where his cousin (Sidik Mia) has left in the constituency.
“People approached me to stand on an independent ticket because of the retirement of Hon. Mia from active politics. I would like to assure people of Mkombedzi constituency to expect more developmental projects
under my leadership,” he said.
He said he is not new in the country’s political arena as he boosted himself to have successfully campaigned for his wife Nasrin Pillanie in 2009 general elections for Balaka West parliamentary seat.
“I am ready to face my contenders during political debates which some accredited civil society organizations will be organizing ahead of the elections. But I would like to appeal for issued-based political campaigns which can benefit the electorates after the elections,” he said.
He said he believes in education and that he would make sure that Mkombedzi should have modern school facilities to motivate children to go further with their studies.
“I will therefore make sure that children should not fail to go to school because of poverty by continuing charity works which Mia’s Foundation has been doing in the area and make food security as one of the priority areas,” he said.
The candidate holds Master Degree in Management from Derby University in England and First Degree in Computer Science and he has worked in Sweden, England, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Thailand.
“I have been government consultant for six years with the following ministries; education, agriculture, health and transport and I know how to initiate any kind of development project,” he said.
In a separate interview, Ben Montfort Khuleya who is also vying for the parliamentary seat in Chikhwawa Mkombedzi Constituency under the ticket of Peoples Party said he would address water problems in Nyasa,
Mkumaniza and Therere areas.
“Apart from water and sanitation, I will embark on irrigation farming by utilizing the Shire River so that hunger in Mkombedzi should be the story of the past,” he said.
Khuleya said he would also advocate for higher cotton prices as he said his constituency has higher number of cotton farmers.
On health, Khuleya said Chipwayira Health Centre need to have electricity so that patients should receive best treatment and at the same time motivating health workers with good staff houses.
He then hails Malawi Electoral Commission for initiating issued-based campaign ahead of the May 20, 2014 tripartite elections.
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