Joyce Banda vows to replace FISP with universal fertiliser subsidy: ‘I will fight poverty among Malawians head on’
Malawi’s immediate past former president Joyce Banda, who is People’s Party leader, has said most political leaders in the country are “woefully” out of touch with economic reality for people living in poverty and therefore do not have the necessary willpower to fight poverty.
“I have everything that it takes to live a comfortable life. But I have grown up in poverty; I know what it means to be poor. I, therefore, cannot sit back, in the comfort of my home, while many Malawians out there struggle to afford even one meal a day. I know how painful and pathetic it is to live in a grass-thatched house. I will always dedicate my life to helping the underprivileged move out of poverty,” said Banda when she addressed a political rally in Machinga South-east constituency on Sunday, August 5, 2018.
She said she would therefore not hesitate to run for president in 2019 if the party chooses her as presidential candidate, emphasizing serving people, particularly the less-privileged was her “calling”.
Banda, 68, told her jubilant supporters that while she was Head of State from 2012 to 2014, her government made many social and economic development strides, particularly in economic empowerment of the rural masses.
“During our time, we made sure that our rural farmers get better prices for their produce. We wooed back international tobacco buyers who had been deported by the previous regime. I personally negotiated with them to return and asked them to buy tobacco from our farmers at favourable prices. We did the same with other crops like peas,” said Banda, bemoaning that the status quo at present was pathetic because prices of farm produce have hit all time low.
Banda – only the second woman to lead a country in Africa – then announced that she would abolish the “selective” Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) and introduce universal fertilizer subsidy programme so that every farmer benefits and therefore improve security at both household and national levels.
The former president said she has already identified funding for the implementation of universal fertilizer subsidy programme.
She said when she will roll back “people-centred social and economic policies” in order to take Malawians out of abject poverty. Banda said for example, she would fight for better prices for farm produce, including resuscitating ADMARC so that it returns to being a reliable ready market for rural small-scale farmers.
“I will put a stop to the current frequent power cuts end in order to promote the manufacturing industry, thereby creating employment for the youths.
“It is generally agreed that reliable power expands the number and variety of businesses and job opportunities available. Uninterrupted power means that businesses such as hair salons, welders and maize mills, among others, all of which rely on electricity can function,” she said, recalling that during her tenure in office, Malawi never experienced any blackouts.
She also pledged to improve the health and education sectors, saying she would ensure that teachers and health workers work in better conditions and that conducive learning and teaching environment is created in all education institutions at all levels.
The PP leader said education is an indispensable tool for the achievement of meaningful socio-economic development of any nation and hence her government shall give education special attention.
Banda was accompanied by Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Reverend Wilson Ndomondo, national organizing secretary Ephraim Chibvunde, PP vice presidents for eastern, central and northern regions, Akajuwe Roy Kachale Banda, Beatrice Mwale and Kamlepo Kalua, respectively, among others.
Malawi, one of the world’s poorest and aid-dependent countries, will hold presidential, parliamentary and council elections in May 2019.
Banda founded the People’s Party (PP) in 2011 after splitting from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which is led by President Peter Mutharika.
She came to power in 2012 when Bingu wa Mutharika, the current president’s brother, died in office.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
She had two years and never did what she promised like abolishing qoata system and FISP. This woman wants to contest because she is salivating at the money that will be given to women contestants by donors as we all know she is a she thief and she wants to continue where she stopped.
I want to request women empowerment organisations to keep eyes open an watch this she thief before she preys on women money.
My family did not receive ng’ombe when she was in power so I can’t trust her. Bye Felicia!
Kkkkkkkk you had two years to implement that but you did not. Why this time, I think this universal subsidy program has been pushed by MCP since JZU was its leader but has always fallen on deaf govt ears because its part of kusosola area to fatten your personal pockets both DPP & PP have benefitted from it. Keep quiet and we know why you are doing this. Birds of the same feathers (with DPP). We were told you will be arrested on cashgate related case and there was warrant of arrest by the police, what has happened since you came back? There is a deal between you and DPP coz we know Kamlepo and your son went to see APM at State House which has raised a lot of questions than answers.
the opposition has much far divided because of greedy. my foot . everyone wants to become a president, my nyasaland
Kikikiki! Didn’t read the stupid article, came straight to the comments and I haven’t been disappointed! Hahahah Joyce Banda Hahahaha! Demeti!
KIkiki yes Same here!!
No subsidy please, we need to move away from this mentality, Empower Malawians so we can be self sufficient, sick and tired of handouts, if that is your message then you might as well sit down and let the winds of change pass through
KKKK I had a personal encounter with Joyce Banda iiiiii mai oyipa mtima. She wants to lead us? ndiye zachibwana zimenezo!!! Kodi what is this that Im seeing when she was disembarking from her vehicle? akumakanika kutsika galimoto, mpaka ma steps otsikira mgalimoto zoona? what type of greedy is this? mwatani kodi agogo? kkkk Joyce banda for president????? Mbuzi
Was it not JZU who preached time and time again about Universal Fertilizer Subsidy?
She inherited a nation without Fuel and Forex,the country was completely off track.She did not Try to Sit on Corruption as Others have been doing for 4 years.Instead some People were arrested and some are still in jail.Tiuzeni ndani Anamangidwa 577 billion Cashgate? Ndani wamangidwa ma billion a Ku Tevet,Escom,Admarc etc.Its only Now ena akudzidzimuka kuti Mbava,Mbava, njobvu zapita zaononga kale.At least the lady took some Action.
U dont know international politics, u are blind, just as many Malawians. All that moment was engineered by mzungu to deflate Bingu, When Bingu died, the same mzungu reversed the situation, thats y JB was under mzungu in every decision. Mwaiwala? “Azungu akutiiiiii, bla bla bla….” zopusa zokhazokha u cant do that in their country. To a blind Malawian, JB anabweretsa fuel, sugar. my foot. JB is clueless on Governance. U remember T Blair brought his firm to help JB on Governance, and he milked us alot of billions. What is new in good governance, that Malawi should need a foreign firm? kuba kokhakokha tukanako nkumenekoko. Wake up Malawi.
JB is an ignorant, bloodsucking, shameless, TB Joshua- worshipping, greedy, manipulative, mean-spirited, lying, crooked, parasitic, low IQ vagabond! Musatinyase!! Mwamva? Mxxxxiiiiiii!
Opportunistic traits in our beloved aunt JB are obvious to all Sanjika palace has been drifting away from you the day you abandoned Malawians you went into exile in that you enforced the perception that you had more information about cashgate and your political enemies never spent a day without associating or linking your name to Oswald Lutepo so you have been in the Opinion Court the ordinary Malawians have judged the case you gave your enemies a leeway they were waving the Interpol warrant everyday see how they successfully booted you out of the contest our peace loving president Bonani Pepani Sorry
Iiiiii hihihihi hahahaha koma abale,zins ukamva..nkutu mwanga ineeeee..
Khalani pansi zinakukanikani. Nothing new to offer mayi JB. I don’t think you get it in your brain that the dymanics of politics have changed. Your party is an offshoot of a Cashgate family-leave ndale and do gospel work in order to save your soul. Maybe I missed it, TB Joshua promised you another walk in the corridors of Kamuzu palace right? I see.
How does JB explain that she was in government but did not implement the universal fertilizer subsidy.
Kkk. You lost it Mama. You shouldn’t have lost that last election. You were too busy on the ground when your DPP friends were hyper busy with IT rigging gadgets.
You lost it completely. Pepani ndithu pepani.
Anali kuti bongololo akutuluka lero when the poor were lavishing the past 4 years? You were given 2 years to examine whether you are capable or not. All we saw was a country ruled by AZUNGU, and they took advantage to milk us further in deep poverty, adding salt on the cashgate. “Akuba toto”, “family parties toto too”. ( Azungu akuti chiyani ulendo uno, universal subsidy?). Kuganiza kopelewera kokhakokha uku.
Kapitilizeni kudya cashgate ku Azungu mudali kuja. Taking Malawians for granted, kutereku u cant survive without kulowa m’boma? I would rather vote for Chilima or Chakwera though I changed citizenship. As long as mbava continue ruling, Malawi will never develop.
I left Malawi and seek for a better life – haven in Botswana due to such headless leaders.
She was given the opportunity to do what she is saying now, but for two years she failed.
What have you done in two years? Sometimes I think we judge JB unfairy. She took the government is a very worst situation than anyone else. Cash gate happened under her watch and she instituted an inquiry supported by the British government. Govt claimed they had evidence that she was involved but up to now we have not heard anything form ACB, even from the police who said they had warrant of arrest. Sometimes Malawians we should learn to be objective.
Amayi mwaulemu chonde kalani pansi. Siyani Ndale. Mongo pempa chabe!!
Good to see people having political fun in a democracy.
However Mai, Mwapakula kwathawi yaitali ndipo mubweza chaka cha mawa. Ma truck over 100 ana anu anathawitsira ku Zambia, anadzipeza kuti? We cant let you anywhere near account number 1. Ndegenso fotokozani kuti ili kuti?
Nothing new. Every political party has the same talking points: end hunger, electricity, education blah blah blah. We all know the formula to economic growth. The problem is that corruption is so high and govt so incompetent, that these initiatives never get the funding they need (or even see the light of day). I’m still waiting for a politician who will truly cleanse this sickness of theft. JB should go back to that fake Nigerian pastor Tuberculosis Joshua. She has no new ideas to give us.
Universal FISP is not sustainable, Madam. Do not promise something that can not be effectively implemented. Donors will not give any more sympathies as they did before.
Join the discussion…Dyera chipani ndichimodzi basi, cha nation MCP zinazi ndi ma family movement and businesses.
MCP chipani cha achewa. Akumwera mpando umenewu sitilora kuti ubwere ku central region
That’s the problem with Malawi politicians. When they say that they’ll fight poverty in Malawi, they actually mean there own and a few of their cronies. They’re not interested in an inclusive approach in fighting poverty. Madam Banda, what a few of Africa ex-presidents have done……retire from politics and contribute to the society behind the scenes.
Koma abale inu zipanizi sizingakhale ziwiri zokha Mmalawi muno??? Zachulukitsa
Noxy, you are 100% right. They will just divide the votes much further.