Abida Mia, wife to Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Vice President Muhammad Sidik Mia, says she is ready to compete as the MCP candidate for Chikwawa Mkombezi constituency despite cultural norms posing as a threat to female candidates in the Lower Shire district.
Mia was speaking at a rally on Saturday at Nkomaniza Primary School ground in Saopa ward where she was being unveiled as the candidate for the area after being overwhelmingly voted to represent the party in the MCP primary elections last month.
The shadow MP said chiefs and party leaders requested her to represent the party as an MP.
Abida said she is capable of delivering on people’s aspirations in the area as she has always been in touch with chiefs and constituents and is familiar with the development needs of the area.
MCP Vice President Muhammad Sidik Mia who once served as the MP for Chikwawa Mkombezi officially unveiled his wife as the candidate for the area.
Mia announced earlier this year that he was to bounce back as the MP for the area after he voluntarily stepped down in 2014 saying there was no development in the constituency since he left.
But after becoming MCP Vice President, Mia said he cannot represent the people in the constituency and will concentrate on his bid to be selected as runningmate to MCP President Dr Lazarus Chakwera
On Saturday, he said he is confident his wife is capable of revamping development in the area.
Mia described his wife as a woman who doesn’t believe in speaking only but matches her words with actions and that she is going to achieve more once elected as an MP.
Abida Mia is the sole female candidate in Chikwawa Nkombezi constituency in which Loyd Malora of the DPP is the incumbent MP.
