Atupele registers, takes ‘battle of ideas’ to stronghold eastern region
United Democratic Front (UDF) Leader and Presidential candidate for the 2014 tripartite General Elections Atupele Muluzi on Monday registered as a voter ahead of the 2014 elections in his rural constituency of Machinga north-east in the eastern district of Machinga.
The 35-year-old Malawi’s presidential candidate later took his ‘Agenda for Change’ campaign appearance in the party’s stronghold Machinga and rural Zomba on a whistle-stop tour urging people to go and register.
Hundreds of flag-waving supporters thronged the venues of the meetings in what can be described as a campaign to consolidate his UDF party strongholds.
During the tour, the UDF leader visited Chamba, Mposa, and Wataka in Machinga district on Monday.
On Tuesday, the UDF 2014 torch bearer, went to Nainunje primary school registration center in his Machinga North East Constituency where he was registered as a voter, before leaving for yet another tour that started from Chinkwezule in Machinga district before addressing rallies at Chinseu and Masaula trading cen ters in Zomba.
“It is my appeal to Malawians to go enmasse and register so that they can exercise their democratic right to vote for a councillor, a Member of Parliament and a president of their choice in May 2014,” said Atupele.
Atupele said the next UDF administration will make sure that people have money in their pockets and that the suffering that many Malawians especially those living in the rural areas does not marry with the rhetoric that the economy of this country is working for ordinary Malawians.
“The public purse needs to work for all ordinary Malawians, and not a handful of people in this country who are politically connected,” he said.
“Politicians are messing up this country and that is the reason why some us are saying change must come,” declared Atupele to the jubilant supporters, who braved the scorching sun.
He stated, that the change that Malawians are fighting for is quite different from the one they fought for in the 1990’s where it was related to political change from one party dictatorship to true democracy and freedom.
“The Agenda for Change should now set out how we are going to elevate Malawi to the level of other democratic, wealthy and prosperous nations, one amongst equals in the world,” he said.
He stated that he believes it is possible if Malawi embraces “drastic changes” that would enable the country to make it in this globally competitive world.
“It can no longer be business as usuall in 2014 and beyond” he said. “We need to make a daring new start”.
He stated that on delivering change in Malawi the next UDF administration will focus on four crItical areas of; Inclusive Growth, Governance, Social Protection, Peace and security.
Atupele promised the gatherings that the much touted UDF National Policy Conference which is taking place next month will provide the details on how the changes will be delivered.
Malawians in May next year go to the polls to elect a president, lawmakers and councilors.
In the presidential race, Atupele will be challenging President Joyce Banda who will be seeking her own full mandate after assuming power by accident of fate when President Bingu wa Mutharika suddenly died from cardiac arrest complications in his office in the renamed New State House on April 5 last year. Banda was Mutharika’s Vice-President.
Banda, Africa’s second female president, also faces a tough challenge from main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) candidate, the Rev. Lazarus Chakwera.
Chakwera, 58, an untried and untested new-comer to Malawi’s frontline politics has excited the political landscape in the southern African country with many calling him ‘game changer’ since he is not associated with the corruption and various forms of misrule that taint established politicians.
But the late president Mutharika’s brother, Washington State University professor Peter Mutharika, should also not be dismissed outright.
The 73-year-old academic leads l his late brother’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), now in opposition, following the president’s death.
He had a spectacular fall-out with his deputy Banda over succession plans, leading to her expulsion from the DPP.
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