Northern region politicians support NARC bid to produce many MPs in 2014 polls
About 200 political activists in Mzuzu and some parts of the northern Malawi have teamed up to mobilize support for National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) a political party led by Loveness Gondwe “to produce many opposition parliamentarians and local councilors” to be fighting for issues affecting the region in parliament and local councils.
This comes barely few months after the decision to dissolve northern based political parties and revamp the once mighty, Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) to form a political block for the region flopped after the party’s leader, Enock Chihana denied Gondwe to contest at the multi parties’ conversion, a development depressed member of various parties including AFORD.
The decision to dissolve the parties and revamp AFORD was made during a meeting of various political parties in region where it was observed that all governments oppress the region in terms of development due to lack of strong voice from the region in parliament as most of the elected leaders belong to the ruling party and prioritize their personal interests.
“This region is under developed as compared to others because of greed and selfishness of our Parliamentarians as most of them focus on enriching themselves rather than serving their citizens,” said Adams Tembo one of the AFORD strong members who have joined Gondwe’s party, adding, “hence we want to change things by engaging leaders who have passion for their people such as Loveness Gondwe.”
He said the activists who include members of the Young Politicians Union, gospel artists, religious leaders and farmers from Mzimba district have decided to support Gondwe, and endorse her as a voice for the north due to her unique leadership.
“She is a courageous and confident woman who does not condone corruption and had always been fighting for the north when she was a parliament, for instance, she exposed a Vwaza marsh concession corruption by a top DPP government official, this is the kind of leadership we are looking for”, he said.
Gondwe who had once saved as Deputy Speaker of Parliament attracted the attention of democracy fighters and the international community when she openly rejected an open term bill which was proposed by then fellow AFORD Parliamentarians.
The bill was to enable former President Bakili Muluzi to contest for several times, contrary to the constitutional two consecutive terms law.
Meanwhile, the activists have challenged to invade all corners of the north and Kasungu and Nkhota-kota districts in the central region, mobilizing support for NARC candidates to win more parliamentarians and local government councilors which they believe would enable them have strong voice on issues affecting the region in parliament and local councils.
The development has pleased Gondwe who with support from her Swedish donors has hired international political analysts and campaign strategists from the South African-based Education and Training Unit, to train the members on how to convince voters ahead of the forth coming elections.
“I have been lacking such kind of support from my fellow northerners, and will make sure that I utilize the support they have given me to meet their expectations”, said Gondwe during a four day training being held in Mzuzu city.
She also announced that her Swedish donors have challenged to support the region with funding for rebuilding Mzuzu city which is the headquarters of the region among other development projects if she produces parliamentarians and councilors during the elections.
The NARC president said her agenda remains on eradicating youth unemployment by engaging the youth in the region in entrepreneurship through establishment of vocational training institutions, improving farmers’ conditions, empowering women and ensure that people from the region have fair benefit to their natural resources including Mines and Viphya plantations, a largest man made forest in Sub- Saharan Africa.
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