Teenager defies the odds in Chanco polls

Mar 30, 2016 Top News 95
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Malawi24
Vitumbiko Thindwa

Vitumbiko Thindwa, a 19 year-old third year student pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in education language, has ascended to the position of speaker in the Chancellor College Student Union (SUCC) having tremendously gone ahead of two male opponents in last week’s polls.

Thindwa faced Andrea Naweta, and Yasin Daudi who were also vying for the mouthpiece position.

It proved to be hard among the Chirunga community to predict who was going to grab SUCC’s most prestigious position but less fingers pointed at Thindwa as the next speaker.

Vitumbiko Thindwa
Thindwa defied odds.

Twelve hours after polling, results were released. The good and the bad news spread across social media platforms like an epidemic.

It was a moment of mixed emotions when Vitumbiko Thindwa’s name topped the race.

Tears of joy oozed from eyes of feminist students who felt female representation is very low in the union.

Thindwa scooped 707 votes seconded by Naweta who got 241 votes and Daudi came last with 207 votes.  

Her triumph came as a shock to a large segment of male students whom this journalist approached to grasp their prediction.

They had undoubtedly counted her out of the race, citing her gender as a villain.

However, a selected few expressed their confidence in Thindwa irrespective of her gender and age, factors that were being used as weapons for decampaigning the lady.

A day before the polls, Thindwa was spotted spitting a word of hope amidst an eager group of male students at Quadrangle square, at the College.

This journalist rushed to have an ear of her few words.

She said: “I will put student’s welfare ahead of personal gains and I can assure you that am ready to handle pressure of any intensity.”

Reacting to her victory, the 19 year-old extended her vote of thanks to the Chancellor College Intelligentsia for trusting her.

She promised never to throw her manifesto into the trash bin but put into practical whatever she scribed.

Being the first female speaker in years, she is expected to ensure equal representation of all genders.

Her victory has given hope to other females who have been hiding under the blanket of inferiority. It has been a norm at Chanco that a female cannot be a speaker or be an office bearer of any prestigious position.

Other females who were elected in the executive are; Esther Khao as vice president, Esther Bonyonga as director of women affairs, and Janet Mgawadere as committee member.

Here is the full list of the new SUCC executive:

President: Sylvester Ayuba James

Vice: Esther Khao

Speaker: Vitumbiko Thindwa

Vice: Watson Mbughi

Entertainment Director: Omega Sambakusi

Vice: Yasin Makwinja

Director of Women affairs: Esther Bonyonga

Director of Publications: Fanuel Matandika

Vice: Chisomo Shaba

Director of Catering: Treazer Kambote

Vice: Richard Mwanza

UMSU representatives: Godfrey Pumbwa and Fiskani Nkhoma

Director of Sports: Macdonald Matalala

Vice: Elvis Kasaile

Treasure General: Timothy Chikoti

Vice: Trevor Mphalale

Director of Special Needs: Thandizo Maziyaya

Director of Academics: Johannes Changata

Secretary General: Edward Chilenje

Vice: Mike Munthali

Committee Members: Janet Mgawadere, Ephraim Zulu, George Mwandama, and Eliya Zawanda.