Zariyand to Contest Malé Mayoral Race on PNF Ticket

The People’s National Front (PNF) has announced that Ismail Zariyand, the former chairman of the National Tender Board (NTB), will run for Mayor of Malé City in the upcoming local council elections.

The party unveiled Zariyand as its mayoral candidate during an event titled “Reset” held at Artificial Beach last night.

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Speaking at the gathering, Zariyand said he had not previously been asked to stand for elected office based on his work and beliefs during three decades in public service. He said no previous administration had made such an approach, but added that he decided to contest the election on the PNF ticket after encouragement from former President Abdulla Yameen.

Zariyand, a former long-serving national football team goalkeeper, has held roles across several state institutions for more than 30 years. He previously worked as a senior auditor at the Auditor General’s Office for over two decades and has also served at the Ministry of Finance, where he was involved in compiling the state budget and other responsibilities. He has been outspoken against corruption under successive administrations.

The mayoral contest is expected to draw multiple candidates across parties. Retired Major General Moosa Ali Jaleel has announced an interest in running on the Progressive National Congress (PNC) ticket, while incumbent mayor Adam Azim and former Henveiru Central MP Ali Azim are contesting the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) primary for the Malé mayoralty.