MCP to ‘rethink’ fiscal year: Chakwera signs Oxfam pledge card
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Dr Lazarous Chakwera has said his party will be entitled “to rethink” the country’s fiscal year, once voted into power in May 20 elections to ensure ministry of agriculture gets “timely” funding.
Chakwera said this when he signed a pledge card with Oxfam Malawi in which it committed to ensuring accessible and profitable agricultural markets if voted into power in the forthcoming elections.
He said agriculture remains MCP’s priority area for the growth of the country’s economy and pledged to improve the lives of farmers in the country.
“If voted into power, MCP will be entailed to rethink about the fiscal year so as to provide adequate and timely funding to the Ministry of Agriculture and the rest of the government departments. This will enable both our farmers to sell their produce timely and government to plan properly,” said Chakwera on Friday during the signing ceremony at Nkhotakota Community ground.
MCP is the first party to make the pledge, which is aimed at restoring functional produce markets in the country AND Chakwera said party felt “privileged” as five aspiring members of Parliament (MPs) also signed the pledge card.
Chakwera said MCP will ensure framers have “access to markets.”
He pledged to revamp grain marketor Admarc once voted into power.
Oxfam Malawi media and communications coordinator Daud Kayisi said the solution to functional agricultural markets starts with political leaders because they are policy makers.
He called on all presidential and parliamentary candidates contesting in the May elections to publicly commit to all Malawians and constituents and what they will do to improve farmers; access to agricultural markets.
