Joyce Banda to contest for presidency as PP candidate: ‘I have solutions for Malawi problems’

November 26, 2018 Judith Moyo – Nyasa Times 36 Comments

Immediate past president and leader of People’s Party (PP) Joyce Banda  wants to give the country’s top job another shot by contesting in the May 21 2019 elections and  her party has ruled out that she would play second fiddle in any electoral combination.

Joyce Banda addressing a rally in Lilongwe on Sunday
Joyce Banda vows to seek return to presidency

There has been fevered speculation that PP would consider working with other parties for an electoral alliance.

PP has been linked with UTM of Vice-President Saulos Chilima after Banda was supportive of UTM’s pledge to create one million jobs within the first 12 months in office if elected in the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections and met the country’s second-in-command for talks.

Chilima publicly acknowledged the endorsement for the possibility to create a million jobs as made by Banda, saying she shares “a common vision” with UTM and described the former president as “one of the positive thinking Malawians who believes that nothing is impossible.”

But Banda refused to commit herself to any talks of a possible alliance, insisting that her stand on one million jobs was based on promises her then governing PP made in its 2014 election manifesto.

Meanwhile, PP spokesman Ackson Kalaile Banda, has stressed that Banda will be on the presidential ballot as torch bearer of the PP.

“She is our presidential candidate who was duly elected at the convention,” said Kalaile Banda.

And speaking at a political rally she addressed at Chiwenga in Lilongwe, Banda spoke clearly as a serious presidential contender, saying she has solutions to the unemployment and power outages Malawi is facing under the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration.

Banda has promised to take Malawi to greater heights if given the opportunity to serve again, explaining that DPP has failed the country.

On electricity, Banda said she would solve the problem once and for all within a short period of time and that she would increase power generation in the country.

“Everyone knows that when it comes to electricity challenges, I am the only person who has the solutions. I have a record on that; once voted into power next year, within 100 days I will deal with the electricity problem and blackouts will be history.

“We will increase power generation with 3,000 megawatts and this will boost the energy sector and the country’s economy,” Banda assured.

A recent survey revealed that Banda is the “most trusted” political leader in Malawi.

Malawi’s Institute of Public Opinion Research (Ipor), Banda was leading in being a trustworthy politician ahead of the current president Peter Mutharika and other political party leaders.

The survey showed that Banda received only 32% trust rating.

“Despite the fact that Joyce Banda has lost popularity with 5% popular rating by the survey, many Malawians are still able to remember that in terms of fulfilling her promises comparatively to the current president [Mutharika], she seems to score highly,” governance expert and commentator Makhumbo Munthali  told Nyasa Times.

Banda – only the second woman to lead a country in Africa – was in August re-elected as PP  leader to lead it into next year’s national elections.

As political parties readied for next year’s elections the PP gave Banda the mandate to attempt to wrestle power from Mutharika’s DPP, to whom she lost the 2014 elections.

Banda founded the PP in 2011 after splitting from the DPP.

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36 replies on “Joyce Banda to contest for presidency as PP candidate: ‘I have solutions for Malawi problems’”

  1. Amayi last time you were third this time you will be last, swallow your pride, the political landscape has changed alot, you’ve been in exile yea? Balamanthu! !! I have solutions for you Malawians really? Be serious swallow your pride. Pa Nyasa patelera.

  3. JB my free advice is that you partner with MCP. The fact that DPP is letting you loose now is not because you are free. The DPP recognizes that taking you head on would take its time during this campaign period.

    Once back in Government and you yourself out, DPP will take you head on so that you too taste arrest and police cell as you did to APM. (Mark my words!!!)

    You can not make it on your own. Go back to the drawing board and re-think. Put forward agood negotiating position otherwise I can assure you come May 2019, you will be running out of this country again. Unfortunately, this time you will NOT succeed.

    FOR ONCE LISTEN!!!

    1. @Ungwelu: Bad advice written all over, as given. Aaaah.
      Joisi Banda should simply quit politics; not only did she fail at the highest level in this country, she actually almost destroyed us.
      Evidently, she has no capacity to make decisions at the national level.
      And, ever wondered why she kept saying “Azungu akuti …”?

  4. Let’s be honest madam. There is no way you can make it on your own and don’t be fooled by crowds of fortune seekers as was the case in 2014, from which you should learn a lesson.
    If, indeed, your concern is the wellbeing of Malawians, you should support MCP. On the other hand, teaming up with DPP will be hypocrisy of the highest order. Malawians will certainly wonder what you are up to.

  9. Warekeni awa Mama Tizakawathyapurenge pa May 21, 2019. She thinks Malawians have short memories over her cashgate government, nepotism and greed? Part of the suffering today is due to her ineptiness. Who will forget her receiving 28 unaccounted for party cars donated by Looteepo and she called him a wise boy? The ESCOM burning linking to her and her sons’ shady deals? Theft of Madonna’s money….the litany is endless. Akagwere!

  10. Madam Joyce Banda can do Malawi pride if she can assist to bring the wind of change to fruition by contibuting her PP votes to either Lazous Chakwera or Saulos Chilima. PP on their own, will have a tall order to win the 2019 elections

  13. Amayi awanso kungofuna kutitayitsa nthawi muja munathawila kunja zinali bwino mukanangokhala konko the country did not miss you

  15. This is her greed. The report did not say she could win. It only said she was the most trusted among those assessed. She was position 3 in 2014 when memories were fresh and her party intact; how about after 5 years when the party in disintegrated ? Amalawi sakhala kuyiwala. The report should not be misconstrued. She cant win. The woman was never in office. All she often told us was “Azungu andiuza”. She was taking us back to azungu days (recolonization). The greed among Malawian opposition parties will keep DPP in power. Only if they formed one coalition with Lazaro and Miya as leaders and cabinets posts shared among parties. Joy just wants to use her bid to attract funding from unsuspecting donors out there. Her prophet revealed this to her already.
    The main reason DPP wants to remain in power is not serve Malawians but to escape waiting jail terms for corruption, abuse of power and public resources. The Party will at all costs fight to stay in power because they know what will follow its inner circle if they lose elections. Their spirit is “if you want peace of mind prepare for a political/tribal war”

    UTM wants to revenge for being sidelined in massive looting and award of contracts. If Kaliati and Masangue were in cabinet they could not have been part of UTM. They are moved by “muona” when out turn comes

  16. Mmmm zisiyeni amai sibwino kuti munyozeke ai cz simuwina..Anthu abwerezenso cashgate ai .Mai mukufuna mukaluza muthawe?Mwakula zitsiyeni

  18. MADAM MALAWIANS ARE ANGRY — JUST HAVE A CLOSE LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED TO JOHN TEMBO JNR AND JULIANA LUNGUZI —

      1. Msasa be ashamed. This time she will not only escape with her tail betwwen her legs but die of heart attack.

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