NGO-Gender Coordination Network (NGO-GCN) has tipped female aspiring candidates in Nkhata Bay on winning campaign strategies in a bid to increase women representation in political leadership positions in the forthcoming general elections.

In an interview Tuesday after an engagement meeting with the aspiring candidates in Nkhata Bay, member for NGO-GCN Dorothy Chiumia said most women fail to make it because they lack confidence to win the hearts of people with their manifestos hence the need to bridge the gap.

She said the Network is there to empower women aspirants with effective communication skills to showcase their manifestos and ideas.

We want all women to win Chiumia NGO-GCN — Chiumia: We want all women to win

“Our emphasis is on the importance of issue-based campaign rather than handouts. This approach ensures that voters understand the value and vision of each candidate,” she said.

She, therefore, assured candidates of continued support with various capacity building skills as it is their aspiration to see all of them winning.

Aspiring parliamentary candidate for Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) in Nkhata Bay West Constituency, Mercy Limbani Kaunda, described the initiative is timely saying it will accord them an opportunity to strategise on how they can sell their ideas without challenges.

“Let me urge all voters to bank their confidence in female candidates without being influenced by handouts,” she said.

The initiative is timely Kaunda NGO-GCN — Kaunda: The initiative is timely

According to Principal Gender Development Officer for Nkhata Bay, Lawrence Matiti, there are currently only two female ward councilors and one female Member of Parliament in the district.

He, therefore, expressed optimism that with this intervention the numbers will increase.

With support from UN Women, under the Malawi Electoral Support Programme, NGO-GCN is engaging female aspirants in Nkhata Bay, Ntchisi, Balaka and Phalombe since October last year to September this year to the tune of K153 million.