Chakwera and Joyce Banda upbeat DPP will lose power in May

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) presidential hopeful Lazarus Chakwera with the backing of  former president Joyce Banda has expressed confidence that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) “without doubt” lose power in the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections, saying their alliance will come in and solve problems which the country is bedevilled with.

Chakwera, his running mate Sidik Mia and Banda of the People’s Party (PP)  expressed their confidence during  a campaign launch rally  at Salima Primary School Ground which attracted a huge turn up.

According to Chakwera‚ the country was going into a “critical time” as voters were fed up with high unemployment‚ the “destruction” of  Malawi’s economy” and  stinking corruption.

In a televised rally, Chakwera said the country’s poverty levels were rising.

“Malawians are suffering. Poverty has reached crisis levels . There  challenges in all sectors,” he said.

Chakwera said the MCP and PP partnership also takes along the country’s former vice-president Khumbo Kachali and his Freedom Party (FP)  which is a winning formula.

“It is greatly encouraging that we have support from Joyce Banda and her PP as well as Freedom Party, this will increase our chances of winning the elections which means that DPP can be unseated  with people’s votes‚” he said.

He said time has come to save Malawi with the DPP on course to lose the election.

“We will work tirelessly to  win the elections,” he said.

Chakwera said he represents the change Malawians want to build a new Malawi guided by his ‘Chakwera Hi5’ principles which are: servant leadership, a united nation, prospering together, ending corruption and respect for the rule of law.

In her remarks, Banda, then the country’s estranged vice-president, who had ascended to the presidency in April 2012 in line with constitutional order after the death of Bingu wa Mutharika, promised that MCP and PP alliance is the only hope for Malawi.

Banda said she has already consulted chiefs who have confirmed and endorsed the alliance.

In her speech, Banda said her record at State House was better than the incumbent from sticking her neck to fight corruption in government.

“When I learnt about looting in government,  I acted swiftly and about 70 people were arrested, even those working in my administration were prosecuted. Today, there is a lot of thieving in government but  the looters are being shielded by the regime,” she said.

Banda also  pointed to  her sharp reductions in maternal deaths as an example of her successes including energy and mining.

Earlier, Mia said MCP intends to build a new Malawi on the foundations of a democratic State powered by the Chakwera Super Hi 5.

He promised to “deliver together” with Chakwera and be loyal throughout his tenure.

Political analysts have since hailed the MCP-PP relationship, saying it gives MCP, which governed the country in a one-party dictatorship from 1964 to 1994, more chances of winning in the election while disadvantaging other political parties that will go solo.

About 6.59 million voters are expected to vote this year, with over half of the eligible voters being youths and women.

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