Abida Mia named giant of Shire valley as MCP wins all seats in Nsanje in the By-elections.
By Chilenje Chilenje
As some parts of the country went to the polls on 30 March 2021, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) scooped a number of parliamentary seats in the Lower Shire thanks to Abida Mia who fought a good fight since the onset of the campaign ahead of the elections.
Mia, who is Deputy Minister of Lands, with assistance from Illias Karim and Gerald Kazembe MCP’s Deputy Director of Research and Deputy Secretary General respectively proven that MCP’s stronghold in the Lower Shire is being controlled by Mia.
Previously, the Shire Valley has for some time been branded as Democratic Progressive Party (DPP’s) stronghold.
The by elections which saw Kafandikhale Mandevana winning Nsanje central with 9,230 against Francis Kasaila who got 6,648 and Enock Chizuzu’s 9,856 against Mcheka Chilenje’s 8,081,followed the vacancy that was created through the nullification of the election results by the court.
In the Lower Shire Mia had helped in the victory of Enock Chizuzu in Nsanje North and Kafandikhale Mandevana in Nsanje Central claiming seats that were under DPP control.
In her words, Hon Abida Mia writes on her Facebook page:
SKULLDUGGERY PROVEN; LATE SIDIK MIA VINDICATED: CASE OF NSANJE CENTRAL & NORTH CONSTITUENCIES
Dear Friends,
Late Sidik Mia—May his soul continue resting in peace—said time and time again that we were robbed of victory in Nsanje North Constituency, Nsanje Central Constituency, and Chikwawa East Constituency in last year’s tripartite elections. He vowed to financially support the court battle to the bitter end and true to his word, he did the needful until justice prevailed. The court vindicated him and ordered a re-run. Sadly, he never made it to witness his moment of vindication
I dare say that the late Sidik Mia would have swept all these three constituencies had he marshaled this campaign. Nevertheless, we went flat out on the ground, inspired by his passion, to vindicate him and we have managed to reclaim two constituencies in Nsanje North and Nsanje Central, which as you know, were being defended by seasoned politicians, Hon Esther Mcheka Chilenje and Hon Francis Kansaila respectively. We went on the offensive and as you may have learnt, the duo has been trounced by our little-known Hon. Enock Chizuzu and the youthful Hon. Kafandakhale Mandevana of Malawi Congress Party (MCP).
I have no doubt that the late Sidik Mia would have been proud of this achievement and would want us to keep the fire burning and strengthen the mother party not only in the Shire Valley but in the Southern region as a whole.
As you may be aware as well, the late Sidik Mia also lamented on the skullduggery, one of his loyal lieutenants, Hon Gerald Kazembe, suffered in Mangochi Monkey-Bay Constituency in the same Jane Ansah chaotically managed 2019 tripartite elections. We must draw lessons from this victorious Nsanje campaign and execute the same to perfection in this constituency, in the event the courts rule in our favor.
As we wait for the official results of this by-election to be announced, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the entire campaign team for a job well done. One way of helping President Chakwera develop our country is by increasing the number of legislators in Parliament to support his Hi-5 agenda and this you have done with zeal and dedication and for this, we say a big thank you.
Abida Sidik Mia
Deputy Minister of Lands