Katsonga says PPM attracting members with 20 points action plan
People’s Progressive Movement (PPM) presidential candidate Mark Katsonga has said he is pleased that his party is gaining strength of membership who are attracted by his party’s 20 point action plan.
He said PPM has welcomed in its fold 24 members who were supporters of the ruling Peoples Party (PP) including the chair lady for Mchinji West constituency Abiti Patuma.
Patuma told people who gathered at Mchinji boma on Monday that PPM’s 20 points plan which includes closing the account number one have convinced them that Katsonga can make a better Malawi for everybody if voted into power come Tuesday next week.
“We have realized that PPM’s 20 points plan are capable of making Malawi a better place for everyone. The closing of account number one, promoting the youth and finding reliable markets for smallholder farmers which include handing over ADMARC to farmers are some of the points which have impressed us to join PPM”, said Patuma.
Katsonga said the defection of people into his party from different parties is a sign that people are tired of governments which have been abusing account number one hence need to change things come Tuesday next week.
The PPM leader said he intends to close the number one account and that the central government job we will be just overseeing the account.
Said the PPM president: “Decentralisation should start from account number one. This year’s budget is K640 billion which if decentralise it, each district could get about K22 billion. It’s a pity if you go out there to hear that the council’s budget is K1 million.”
Katsonga has however come under fire from economic experts for his plans, to abolish government’s consolidated account once voted into power after May 20 elections.
The economic experts argued that removing account number one, would jeopardise some key critical government obligations such as repaying government debt, statutory expenditure, among others.
Among other things Joseph Mazizi Ngozo who is also the PPM’s spokesperson told the gathering at Mchinji boma that he will upgrade dilapidated roads around Mchinji Township and help farmers find reliable markets for their produce. –(Additional reporting Wanga Gwede, Nyasa Times)
