JB outlines considerations for voting in 2014 Malawi polls
President Joyce Banda has advised all Malawians to enlist their names in the voter’s roll when the turn of their area to register comes, and, most importantly, remember their plight under previous administrations when they cast their votes to elect their leaders next year.
President Banda made the call at Luvwere School Ground in the area of Inkosi Mtwalo in Mzimba West constituency on Thursday after unveiling a foundation stone for the construction of Luvwere Modern Health Centre.
“I would like to urge you to take the registration exercise very seriously. When the turn of this area, and many areas in Malawi, comes, make sure you register and keep the registration certificates safe,” she advised.
“When time for voting comes in May next year, never forget the suffering you, or your relations, went through during the previous administrations. The choice you will make when voting will ensure that that you must never face that plight again,” she reasoned with the people.
She outlined some of the considerations that people must remember while in the polling booth.
“We didn’t have forex in this country; we used to sleep at filling stations because of lack of fuel; we never used to have freedom in Malawi and some of our own were killed for simply trying to exercise their rights to protest;about two million people were hungry in Malawi but leaders used to deny this for the sake of political expediency.
“We had become almost a pariah state because we lost friends and development partners. It took my administration to correct these things. This, you must never forget.”
In the same vein, she urged Malawians to elect only those leaders that will remain their servants even after winning elections, warning them against voting for people who will change into their bosses once elected.
“It is unfortunate that during campaign we come here as humble servants looking for employment. But once we convince you and you vote for us, some of us run away, while others become untouchable and unapproachable bosses. Watch against such people,” she advised.
“No leader should ever make Malawians as his or her servants,” emphasized.
This is the reason, she explained, her administration will continue to design programmes that resonate with, and resolve the challenges facing, the poor people regardless of the opposition she gets from those that are out of touch with the reality of the scale of poverty and despondency in Malawi.
President Banda said she has directed relevant officials in her administration that social safety net programmes of cash transfer must be nationwide, while the annual public works project must start in good time.
“The Mudzi Transformation Trust is part of the many initiatives that my administration is implementing to make sure that the lives of our poor people must be changed for the better,” she explained.
President Banda disclosed she has already instructed pertinent ministries and authorities that food must be moved from areas of higher to lower concentration with immediate effect to avert the looming food shortages.
“I have also advised that if need be food importation must be done very speedily,” she said, shuddering at reports that some of her opponents are celebrating the imminence of hunger with the hope of gaining political capital out of it.
President Banda said the hard work that her government has invested in its performance, including the fiscal prudence and discipline in terms of resource management, will continue to ensure that people must see the difference between the leadership of the past and of now.
“Development must not just be lip-service; it must be action. Development must be without consideration of regionalism, tribalism, nepotism or cronyism. Development must be spread across the country on the basis of need,” she said.
