NATIONAL GENERAL ELECTIONS 2022

 

TOM PIS KAPO - A GRASS ROOTS MAN

Grassroots leader and Independent  candidate Tom Pis Kapo contesting for the North East electorate seat

Picture & Story By Mark Talia

THE fever of elections is here with both independent and party-endorsed candidates contesting to claim the respective seats in Parliament to represent their people.

One such independent candidate is Tom Pis Kapo from mix parentage of Tari, in Hela Province, and Nipa-Kutubu, in Southern Highlands, who is contesting for the Moresby North East seat and has been residing in the 9 Mile area for the last 35 years.

Mr Kapo contested in the last two elections, 2012 and 2017, and is once again running in the 2022 National General Election.

He has been a long time resident of Port Moresby, growing up in the settlements among people from Hela and Southern Highlands provinces and brought up by people from Enga, Goroka and Chimbu.

“I am not contesting because I have money and vehicles. I will be walking through Moresby North East to do my campaign and that is my lifestyle, since I do not need a Toyota land cruiser, money or anything. But I think in the highlands, you will need logistics, however in the city you can walk to do your campaign,” Mr Kapo said.

“I am a grassroots and poor people’s leader. For my contribution to the city and to Moresby East, I know God will reward me one day.

“My goal is to change the settlement to suburb, stand for a modernised Moresby North East for a better place to live in.

 “I want to appeal to all youths in the city from Moresby South, North East and North West that all candidates will come and go but your communities are important to you and so you must vote wisely.”

Mr Kapo said as an intending candidate, he has three main policies and they are to strive for peace for a better living, standing for modernise Moresby North East for a better place to live in, and give hope to the hopeless.

The Hela man has been a mediator in a lot of ethnic clashes in the city which were triggered by murder and rape cases.

Mr Kapo has always been the middle man in bringing peace to communities in the 9 Mile area and also around Port Moresby.