Chakwera attacks JB on hand-outs in Zomba
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) presidential candidate Dr Lazarus Chakwera told a rally in Zomba on Thursday that the tendency of giving out freebies to people only breeds laziness among them arguing, it cannot lift them from the dungeons of poverty.
Chakwera said when voted into power, his government will embark on programmes beneficial to Malawians, and not mere distribution of cattle when villagers have no structures to take care of them, an apparent direct attack on incumbent President Joyce Banda’s programme.
Speaking at Mponda Primary School ground in Zomba, Chakwera who is to face his first election after joining mainstream politics last year from the pulpit, said it is up to the people to bring change in the governance system of the country by voting for visionary leadership on May 20 tripartite elections.
The MCP presidential candidate added that the current and past administrations have brought about the culture of dependency on donor funding which has also devolved to the citizens of Malawi.
It is on this that Chakwera said people should treat their ‘precious’ vote as an investment of change for a better Malawi.
“You have the right to vote and change things on May 20 tripartite elections. I cannot promote handouts because it has greatly contributed to laziness and propelled poverty in this country.
“We are failing to stand on our own because of the dependency syndrome. The country has lost its dignity and self-respect because of this,” said Chakwera amid head nodding and handclapping by the gathering.
He added: “In our manifesto we have plans to revamp agriculture by providing ordinary farmers with the necessary farm machinery and universal fertilizer subsidy so that we are food secure. “
He said his government will enhance farming as business and ensure that farmers have ready
markets to sell their produce.
On education, he said the MCP government will work to improve education infrastructure in the country. Chakwera pointed out that one of such ways is to recapitalize the University of Malawi.
“When UNIMA started in 1965 and occupied in 1973, there is little that has been done to expand it. We will make sure that we build more universities so that sons and daughters of Malawi have access to quality education at higher learning institutions,” he said.
The MCP leader asked the sizeable crowd to give him their votes.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :