Malawi must complete change now – Bakili

Muluzi: Widely expected to win Malawi presidency in 2009 continues to attract crowds

Malawi’s main presidential contender Dr Bakili Muluzi  on Sunday attended CCAP Paper Sunday prayers in Balaka district and thereafter addressed crowds urging Malawians to stamp out government of Bingu Mutharika in the next year’s polls. 

The meetings were held at Majiga, Che Mbela and Ulongwe areas in Balaka where Dr Muluzi was received by huge crowds of people who echoed deafening chants of “Tatopa ndi Bingu” [We are tired of the incumbent Bingu Mutharika]. 

Muluzi in an upbeat mood after hard core door-to-door voter registration  campaign in the eastern region for the last week said he is ready to govern given another mandate in 2009 as Head of State. 

The former president who is presidential candidate of UDF and its alliance partners pledged that when elected back to the higher office he will restore “good governance and economic prosperity for all Malawians”. 

Muluzi, favoured to defeat his political handwork, Mutharika, whom he propelled to power in 2004, accused  the President of neglecting the  eastern region which is UDF's political bedrock and urged the people there not to give the DPP any chance but ensure that his ticket  emerge victorious. 

“The President has neglected you in his tenure of office. We agreed in principle with him on so many development projects which he has not fulfilled and therefore he does not deserve to continue to be in power,” said Muluzi. 

He mentioned so many road projects which he agreed with Mutharika that government should construct and also other social amenities as a continuous development agenda of his previous government. 

The charismatic Muluzi said the next elections Malawians must complete change in ushering in leadership that has welfare of people at heart, champion the interest of the poor and a leader who respect the rule of law, good governance, human rights and promote national unity. 

“I want people to feel good about being a Malawian again,” said Muluzi optimistic that he will win the May 19, 2009 polls. 

Opponents of Muluzi in the government are sweating amid his ever growing popularity and have resorted to desperate tactics by creating and issuing false statements that he is not eligible under the constitution to contest. 

The propaganda is meant to invent discomfort amongst his supporters.  

Abubakar Mbaya UDF eastern region governor said Muluzi supporters have realised the propaganda machine of government and would not be detracted by hate and despondency messages. 

“People here are ready to remove out of power Mutharika government which has caused so much harm and poverty to the majority poor Malawians," he said. 

Mbaya said whatever the method DPP and its strategists would use it will not work challenging that the harder they come on Muluzi, the harder they will be thoroughly defeated.