Atupele tells Kasungu: Economic change priority after winning Malawi presidency
United Democratic Front (UDF) president Atupele Muluzi has said he is going to get down to the business of governing and focus on economic revival if elected as Head of State in May, saying he will not make unrealistic promises.
He said this during whistle-stop tours he conducted in central region tobacco growing district of Kasungu on Sunday on his way from the northern region.
The UDF torchbearer addressed rallies at Nkhamenya and Kasungu Boma.
He said Socio-Economic Transformation plan in UDF manifesto will form the bedrock of its attempt to spur economic growth, which he said has stalled after mismanagement.
“We are going to get down to work on making sure we grow this economy,” said Atupele who was Economic Planning Minister in Joyce Banda administration before he resigned.
“Our immediate plan once voted into Government in May will be to stabilize the economy because it is very clear that we will inherit a fiscal crisis. Therefore my immediate task will be economic stability and at the same time provide a cushion to Malawians from the effects of economic mismanagement,” he said.
Atupele said Malawi must attain faster economic growth that is inclusive with strong collaborative partnerships among the government, private sector, citizens and other stakeholders.
He said his administration will put emphasis to “perform and deliver,” telling the crowds that the fight at elections in May is for Economic Change.
“The Agenda for Change is all about Economic Change. We achieved Independence in 1964 and political change in 1994 but we are yet to achieve Economic Change. This fight is about Economic Change,” he kept emphasizing.
Atupele said that the problems that Malawi has is not very much a lack of resources but rather how these resources are prioritized and used.
He further said UDF would ensure that people have money in their pockets by revamping economy, labour and agriculture for increased production and job creation.
“Our Manifesto which will be out soon will have well budgeted programs that will show how much it will cost and where the money will come from,” he said.
There was jubilation at both venues when Atupele declared that his administration will abolish the irregularity-infested Farm Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp) if the party is voted into office during the May 20 Tripartite Elections.
He observed that despite draining billions of taxpayers’ money, Fisp has failed to inspire food security among Malawians but that it has encouraged corruption.
Atupele announced that UDF administration will introduce a Universal Subsidy Program for fertilizer and will give a detailed explanation on how it will be financed and rolled out.
“UDF policy will be to reduce the price of fertiliser for any person willing to venture into agriculture affords fertiliser,” he said.
“Our party has a clear policy on how we’re going to achieve what we’re promising you,” he assured.
Atupele said UDF government will make sure the public purse is being utilised to improve the quality of life for poor Malawians, not to benefit a few individuals that are close to the echelons of power.
