PDM gets Synod, Catholic support for Rumphi by-election
By Felie Mzumara, Nyasa Times
The People’s Development Movement (PDM) has received backing from CCAP Livingstonia Synod and a Catholic priest of the Mzuzu Diocese to have its parliamentary candidate win the Rumphi Central Constituency in the September 6 by-election
The support was registered when PDM vice president Loveness Gondwe and secretary general Harry Mkandawire launched the campaign for their candidate Peter Chihana on Saturday.
The campaigned was launched on August 20 the day former MP of the area late Prof. Moses Chirambo was buried. It is also the day Livingstonia Synod secretary general Rev. Levi Nyondo was arrested for his eulogy at the funeral ceremony Chirambo, who also served as Minister of Health.
Former Moderator of the Church Rev. Mezuwa Banda said the launch of the campaign was done on “a day which is so meaningful to us.”
He declared the church’s support for a northern region based political party to win the by-elections.
Also throwing the weight behind PDM candidate was Father Eugene Ngoma of the Mzuzu Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church.
“We (Catholic priests) are here to support this party. It is not good to have as many parties in the northern region. The region needs a power broker and that can be PDM,” said the cleric who is the head of Community Radio Tigabane in Mzuzu.
Other candidates are McDowell Steven Aaron Chidumba Mkandawire of the newly-registered Peoples Party (PP) of which its President is Vice President of the Republic of Malawi Joyce Banda, Enoch Chihana of Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), and Norman Malondanimaso Nyirenda of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
