DPP SG Wa Jeffrey scolds UTM as ‘agalu’: Mutharika dismisses SKC’s ‘bullet train’ pledge

The outspoken Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) secretary general Greiselder Jeffrey  wa Jeffrey on Thursday  took her outbursts on  United Transformation Movement (UTM)  when she spoke  during President Peter Mutharika’s  whistle-stop rally in Nkhotakota.

Jeffrey welcomes Mutharika in Nkhotakota

Mutharika was on his way from the Northern Region to his base, Lilongwe the capital city.

In her remarks, Jeffrey accused some political leaders in apparent refrence to UTM which is led by State Vice-President Saulos Chilima of attempting to pull the governing DPP down.

She called them “agalu” and “akuba” (dogs and thieves).

But in his speech, Mutharika also accused the UTM for practising what he called “inflammatory politics.”

Mutharika, who last week warned Chilina, former first lady Callista Mutharika and other movement leaders against attacking him, threatening he would drop on them like a tonne of bricks on their heads if they continue doing so,  said promises being made by Chilima to do if elected as President in next year’s tripartite electios were empty.

“There is no way someone can create one million jobs in one year here in Malawi,” said Mutharika quashing Chilima’s pledges.

“Do not let some people deceive you. I hear someone has promised to provide a bullet train for the country when elected into power, this is pity considering that America which is one of the richest countries in the world failed to do the project because it is expensive, can Malawi achieve that without sufficient electricity?” he wondered.

“I was in America for 40 years… I know. They tired to build such a train but failed because it’s expensive despite their huge economic muscle,” he added.

But UTM secretary general Patricia Kaliati in an interview with Nyasa Times, said  the DPP should not twist the message of their movement.

She said Chilima has promised high-speed railway transport from Blantyre to Lilongwe  and trams in cities, saying that is possible,citing  Kenya in East Africa  which has just launched their railway link.

Kaliati said Kenya recently  launched the modern Madaraka Express passenger train service in Mombasa, saying it is possible for Chilima and his UTM administration to implement similar vision.

She said key transport link, to run from the busy port city of Mombasa inland to the highland  Kenya’s capital Nairobi, is eventually hoped to extend onwards to Uganda, and then connect with proposed lines to Rwanda and South Sudan, saying Malawi can step forward with their landmark project when UTM is elected to govern.

In his speech, President Mutharika says his government would embark on realistic infrastrucre development projects, disclosing that they have secured funds for construction of M5 road from Kaphatenga in Salima to Dwangwa in Nkhotakota.

While acknowledging that some sections of the 170kilometre road are in bad shape, President Mutharika reiterated that his government is committed to making sure that various developmental projects take shape and get completed in the country.

“Currently, the government is committed to undertaking 190 projects which are progressing smoothly and among those projects 18 roads are under construction countrywide. This is not an easy job and it has never happened in Malawi.

“The construction will be in two phases, shortly we will start with the Dwangwa-Nkhotakota road which is characterised by single carriage bridges and potholes and then we will finish off with Kaphatenga-Nkhotakota section,” he said.

He also said that he would construct a jetty on Lake Malawi at Nkhotakota Boma to ease water transportation for the people who use the lake.

He also promised that he would construct 2000 houses for vulnerable population including those people with disabilities adding that he is going to ensure provision of potable water to people living throughout the district especially in hard-to-reach areas.

President Muntharika further advised people never to take opposition politicians seriously saying they are always opposing government to advance their selfish personal interests.

“Currently Malawi has the fastest growing economy in Southern Africa, the inflation is low and Kwacha is stable. My government has managed to work for a successful nation just within four years,” said Mutharika.

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Nalingula
Nalingula
5 years ago

Akuziwana Paja anatotinamizira limozi pa Masintha kuti azasisa Malata ndi Cement.Kenako kusintha atawina.

Chakwera 2019 Boma
Chakwera 2019 Boma
5 years ago

Paja UTM ali ndi nyimbo yawo ija amati mukumva kuwawa eee! mukuva kupwetekaaa! mukamalimbano nayo chilima eee. Koma a DPP mukoma chaka chake ndi chino.

Samuel
Samuel
5 years ago

The cheapest BULLET TRAIN is Califonia Bullet Train. Its cost is $10.6 billion dollars which is about 8 trillion Malawi Kwacha. Our annual budget is currently at 1.5 trillion Malawi Kwacha. The cost of a fast train rail is at not less than 82 million dollars per mile. Blantyre to Lilongwe it’s 186 miles. Ndindalama zingati zonse pamodzi? Kkkkkk Kunamizidwa ndakana.

ICHOCHO
ICHOCHO
5 years ago

mukamalimbana naye chilimayu,mumumva kupweteka…simunati nkhalamba inu..iwe jefule ndye uzaKHALA PA NUMBER 1 KUMANGIDWA

Nzika ya Malawi
Nzika ya Malawi
5 years ago

Chitsiru ndi iweyo Manzo. U have eyes but can’t see & ears but can’t hear! Wasn’t there a meeting for DPP inner circle & SKC was not allowed to attend? What were they discussing that they did not want SKC to hear? I thought as second in command he was part of the inner circle? Ngati amakambirana zotibera misonkho yathu SKC zimukhudza bwanji woti anamuletsa kukhala nawo? Yes, SKC is in government but not in DPP. If u can look back, all the assignments SKC was given, he did them diligently including waddling in muddy waters to visit flood victims,… Read more »

Watematema Mutu
5 years ago

Tell Pitala not to poke his nose into UTM pot. These are signs of desperations and disillusions!!!! More fire Chilima mpaka Jefule yo akoze basi!!!! Amawona ngati masewera lero akuchita kumamva malungo ndi UTM.

Yatuta
5 years ago

President wabvomera kuti anakhara ku America for 40 years, tsopano first lady Carista analakwa chani powachula MUCHONA.. Ndimayeatsa munthu akakhalisa Ku dziko laeni ndi MUCHONA

Mulopwana
Mulopwana
5 years ago

A Kaliati musawanamize a Malawi za train. Do you know Kenya’s economy? You can not compare Kenya and Malawi. Ife amene tili mu diaspora we know better. Tell people realities and dreams. Recently i was on leave in Malawi and visited the rural areas including Kaliati’s and Winiko’s plus other areas. People dont want you amayi Patricia and believe you me you will not win in your constituency. Mukazawina muzandifunse. UTM is just wasting its time. You better join other briefcase parties and form a grand alliance against DPP.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory
Cognitive Dissonance Theory
5 years ago
Reply to  Mulopwana

So if you say we can not compare Kenya economy and Malawi, how did Kenya get where they are to day? Nzeru za Mulopwana nadi ndizochepa eti. that is why the president is also thinking like “Mulopwana”

KATANGALE BOMA ILI
KATANGALE BOMA ILI
5 years ago

you were critisizing your your opponents that were calling you kuti apumbwe??? nanga inu mukuwatchula kut agalu komanso okuba bwanji????? obweza ndalama zamisinkho yathu inu mmesa ndi amene muli akuba?? you a pumbwa are thieves!!!!

Nadzimbiri
Nadzimbiri
5 years ago

ndizotheka kuchita create 1000 jobs, just believe and work on your strategies bwana. give yourself targets and work hard towards them

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