DVB sat down with 26-year-old Zin Ni Ni Win, who is contesting Pakokku constituency number 2 in Magwe regional parliament, to discuss how she plans to campaign for election and what she has done in her community to date.
Question: You are running for election in Pakokku – did you make the bid for this candidacy or did the party choose you?
Answer: I am still of a young age, and there are things to be learnt about lawmaking, so I wanted to get some working experience. As I prefer to do development work in villages, I decided to bid for candidacy in Magwe and was chosen by the party in accordance with its policies.
Q: Why do you think the party chose you?
A: The party’s policy is to prioritise women, preferably young ethnic women. I think I was chosen because I met that criteria.
Q: The election campaign period has begun. How do you plan to persuade your voters?
A: Our party’s leader urged voters to just vote for the party but do not take into account who is the candidate, so I’ve been telling that to the voters, and also I explained to them why they should vote for the NLD.
Q: How do you plan to secure victory over your rivals especially the ruling USDP candidate?
A: We go on campaigns as we accept that victory for NLD is same as victory for the people, and we carry out sticker campaigns in the rural areas. I believe that the voters will consider more the party they are voting, for rather than the candidate as an individual. As the public knows which party has the capability to take charge and provide for their needs, we do not require much labour in persuading them to vote for us. Because the people know better who can see to their needs.
Q: What kind of work will your prioritise on for the voters in Pakokku if you get elected?
A: I’ve been going on field trips to villages and taking note of each of their needs. I also wrote down who to contact in these villages so they can tell us what they need when I get elected. There are different kinds of needs in different areas and I will try to do my best.
[related]
Q: What do you plan to do to improve the lives of women and young people?
A: A major issue faced by women today is domestic violence. Also I plan to put extra focus on promoting children’s rights.
Q: Can you tell us about your family?
A: My father is U Zaw Win and mother is Daw Mu Sint. I was born on 11 February 1989 and have a bachelor degree in Chinese language from Mandalay University. I also reached level-3 in LCCI (London Chamber of Commerce and Industry).
Q: You were in the NLD’s youth wing previously. Can you tell us about your political experience?
A: I joined the NLD in December 2011 and worked devotedly for the party’s campaign in 2012 by-election.
Q: As a politician, what do you hope for the future?
A: I would like the NLD to win a decisive victory in 2015 elections and would like to contribute what I can in realising Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s political ambition, and be a part of our country’s democracy reforms.
Q: Anything else you want to say?
A: I would like to urge the people to vote for NLD. As our slogan says, ‘Vote for NLD to bring about real change’.
2010 general election result in Pakokku 2 (Magwe regional assembly):
Zaw Moe Thein USDP 50,471 votes
Soe Myint NUP 23,587
Read more DVB interviews here.
