Mother in late 50s elected ward councillor

By JEFFREY ELAPA
AN elderly mother of four has been elected a ward councillor of Londo ward two in Wapenamanda, Enga.
Nancy Kiponge, in her late 50s, was one of 16 councillors in the LLG.
According to reports from Enga, councillor Kiponge comes from the Yanga clan, of the Waimin tribe of Tsak village in Wapenamanda.
The Yanga clan is the clan of former Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia.
Amos Taso, a leader from Londo village, said there were four clans that made up the Waimin tribe.
He said of the four tribes, 16 candidates contested the Londo ward two seat and of the 16, four candidates were from the Ipilya-Yongoa clan, another four from the Indaparaki clan, three from the Kombamkin clan and six, including Kiponge, from the Yanga clan.
Secretary to Government House Bill Toraso, who comes from the Ipilya-Yagoa clan, commended the people of Yongo for recognising the leadership qualities woman leaders, leading to the election of councillor Kipnge.
Toraso said in a male-dominated society in the Highlands, the chances of a woman leader to be elected into a leadership role were rare but the people of Londo had decided to give a woman a chance to represent them.
“I commend her on her election. She stood out among the male candidates to win the respect and support of the people,” he said.
“This is a change in the perception of people, particularly the menfolk in electing a woman and that is commendable.”
Toraso said societies were now starting to respect woman leadership and reflecting gender equality at all decision-making levels and that was something to be proud of.