Msongwe Ward councillor Kondwani Nyasulu(UTM Party) has reclaimed the position of Mzuzu City mayor after beating Luwinga Ward councillor Gift Desire Nyirenda (Malawi Congress Party-MCP) by nine votes against seven.
In an election held yesterday at the Mzuzu City Council (MCC) chamber, Katawa Ward councillor Monica Simwaka (MCP) became the city’s first female deputy mayor.
Simwaka amassed 10 votes against three each for Chibavi West councillor Gabriel Mwaungulu and former deputy mayor Tony Mwenitete of Mzilawaingwe Ward.
In his acceptance speech, Nyasulu, who had a two-and-a-half-year break as mayor after his first term, pledged to work with everyone, including those who did not vote for him.
He said his priority will be to implement the Mzuzu City urban development plan to woo investors.
“There is a big plan and that is what we will be working on. The key priority is to move in a lot of investors. First of all, we will clean the town then we will look at its development and finally the national agenda. We are looking at the airport, markets and roads,” said Nyasulu.
He also said he is keen to push the Tonse Alliance agenda, his partnering with a deputy from the MCP showed that the alliance was still intact.
“We are still mourning the late Saulos Chilima, but at the same time we want to celebrate the appointment of the new Vice-President Michael Usi. The alliance is still alive and the UTM is still strong despite the recent national tragedy,” said Nyasulu.
The third contestant on the position of mayor,councillor Edward Simwaka of Chibavi East Ward, withdrew from the race at the eleventh hour, citing family matters.
On her part, Simwaka said she was excited to hold the position as the first female deputy mayor for the city and pledged to work together with Nyasulu in executing their duties.
The city’s chief executive officer Gomezgani Nyasulu described the election as successful, saying all candidates seemed to have accepted the outcome. He said the council was particularly excited with the coming in of a female deputy mayor.
“We are happy that a full house is finally in place. Our expectation is nothing but to work together with the secretariat and the political arm. We expect the house to move in one direction.
“The coming in of the female deputy, we are happy that we are implementing the applicable gender policies,” he said.
Before voting commenced, councillor for Mchengautuba West ward PyeleChiumia stood on a point of order protesting intent by Nyirenda, the ex-mayor, to vie on the position, citing an ongoing legal battle.
But Gomwezgani Nyasulu, who chaired the elective council meeting, resolved to allow Nyirenda to contest, saying the former mayor was innocent until proven guilty by the courts. n
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