Elipher Mvula, a determined and passionate individual with a disability, had always dreamed of transforming her community. She had contested as a Councillor for Bangwe Namiyango Ward on UTM ticket, but unfortunately, she didn’t win.
Despite her notable developments and commitment to her community, Elipher felt disheartened by the election outcome.
“I’m disappointed. I realized that most people in our area vote for candidates based on handouts, not their manifesto or vision for the community. It’s disheartening to see people prioritizing short-term gains over long-term development,” Elipher said
Her story highlights the determination and resilience in the face of adversity, raising awareness about accessibility and inclusivity in politics, and encouraging change.
This wasn’t Elipher’s first rodeo in politics. She had contested as a Member of Parliament in 2009 and as a Councillor in Mzimba North in 2019. Each time, she poured her heart and soul into her campaign, only to be met with disappointment.
“I’m starting to feel like it’s a waste of time,” Elipher confessed. “I’ve dedicated myself to serving my community, but it seems like people don’t appreciate genuine leadership. They’d rather sell their votes for a few coins.”
Despite her setbacks, Elipher’s passion for transforming her community remains unwavering. She believes that with the right leadership, her area can experience significant development and growth.
Harriet Kachimanga, Public Relations Officer for the Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA), highlighted the importance of inclusivity in the electoral process.
“We commend the Malawi Electoral Commission for its inclusive approach towards people with disabilities. MEC has been committed to disability inclusion throughout the electoral process starting from registration to nomination papers. They even reduced the fees for people with disability. However, we need to address the challenges faced by people with disabilities, such as negative attitudes and limited support.”
Maggie Kathewera Banda, Executive Director for Women’s Legal Resources Center (WOLREC), emphasized the need for affirmative action to promote women’s participation in politics. “Countries that have done well have affirmative action in place. Without it, we’ll be singing the same song every election.”
According to MACODA, 137,925 people with disabilities participated in Malawi’s past elections representing 1.92% of registered voters. MACODA issued 95 disability certificates to the candidates while MEC approved 78 candidates.
Out of the 78 candidates, 18 were contesting as Members of Parliament and only 3 were women while 60 contested as ward councillors, 51 were male and 9 female.
