The former deputy speaker of Malawi'snational assembly presented her nomination papers to the Electoral CommissionWednesday ahead of this year's general election. Loveness Gondwe's move makesher the first female presidential candidate to represent a major politicalparty in the country's history. But critics describe her move as a politicalstunt, claiming that this year's election is expected to be hotly contestedbetween incumbent President Bingu Wa Mutharika and former President BakiliMuluzi. Gondwe is running on the platform of change from the old ways ofpoliticking, promising to improve the living standards of the average Malawian.From Malawi's capital, Lilongwe, Loveness Gondwe tells reporter Peter Clotteythat she is the right person for the presidency after several male presidentsfailed to alleviate the suffering of the Malawi population.
"Thereare so many things I would like to achieve. First and foremost, I would like tocreate jobs for the youth. There are so many dropouts or sometimes those whohave finished their form fours or tertiary education, and they don't haveemployment, and I would like to create employment for them. I would also liketo create employment to promote women, the maternal death rate is too high inMalawi, and I would like to increase birth benefits," Gondwe said.
Shesaid there was need to encourage teachers to bring out the best in Malawistudents.
"Thecivil servants are not getting paid well, especially teachers, and oureducation is deteriorating because the teachers are not paid well. So I wouldjust double their salary and increase their rural allowance so that many ofthose teachers would go to the rural areas and teach our children there. Again,to also support our farmers because agriculture is the backbone of the Malawieconomy," she said.
Gondwesaid Malawians are demanding change in the way of doing things and claims sheis the right person to deliver the change they so demand.
"Thereare so many people, who would like to have change because we have had men. Butwe have not achieved anything. There has been so much intolerance and as acountry we are not moving ahead. And I would like to come up with a differentapproach to doing things and want to be the candidate with a difference, andI'm sure so many people are ready to support me," Gondwe pointed out.
Shesaid although women usually don't run for the presidency, she is currentlyenjoying a lot of support from both men and women who are demanding change.
"Iam getting a lot of support and in my party there are so many male aspiringcandidates and women candidates. I've got a lot of support from both men andwomen and of course, the youth. So those people who doubt me should wait andsee after the election in May," she said.
Gondwesaid she has been on the political scene for a long time, which she claims hasraised her profile ahead of the general election.
"Well,maybe because I'm not new in politics. I have been a member of parliament forsome time and this is going to be my third time in this election. The peopleknow how much I have done and how much I do fight for my country and they knowwhat type of leader I am. So I'm sure nobody can doubt my candidature or what Iwould be as the first woman president of Malawi. And I have seen womendelivering more than men because women are not as corrupt as men are," Gondwepointed out.
Shesaid there was need for reconciliation after often heated public spats betweenformer President Muluzi and incumbent President Mutharika.
"Weshould forget our past and we should know that everybody has got his ownproblems and we have got positives as well as challenges during both of theirterms of Bakili Muluzi and Bingu Wa Mutharika. But we should forge ahead as acountry without looking back because we are all Malawians and we should bepatriotic to our country. You know, Muluzi may have done something bad, but weshouldn't really capitalize on that, and Bingu may also have done something badto the country, but we shouldn't capitalize on that," she said.
Gondwecalled on Malawians to help build the country.
"Thefoundation has already been made we should keep up building up our country asMalawians and be united because this is one Malawi and one nation," Gondwepointed out.
Muluziis constitutionally barred from running as a presidential candidate afterserving two full terms in office from 1994 to 2004. The electoral commission,however, is expected to test his challenge to rule next week, putting to restthe controversy surrounding the former president's candidacy.