Malawi needs a reset button, 2019 polls ‘life time chance’ for change – Chakwera
Leader of opposition and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) presidential candidate for May 2019 Tripartite Election, Lazarus Chakwera plans to launch his political mission to win the race to State House by inviting Malawians to an engagement to come up with his party’s pact with the electorate.
Chakwera said the engagement will culminate in conversations, dialogue and debates that will collectively help MCP weave together the broader and finer details of a Malawi that its citizens desire that works for all.
“We cannot afford to go on like this as a nation especially after more than 50 years of independence. We are running out of time; we have to change the way we govern ourselves, and we have to change now,” said Chakwera.
He said the elections on May 21 2019 are the “golden opportunity” for Malawians to collectively effect the changes that will enable the nation carve out concrete and viable pathways to a Malawi that works for all not a priviledged few.
“As the leader of MCP, I am very much troubled when I see our neighbours making tremendous progress yet we are just as competitive as they are, and even better endowed in some of the key areas that drive fundamental structural transformation and sustainable inclusive development.
“There is no question about it; we can do it only if we are determined, working together with a shared sense of public interest supported by capable, visionary and pragmatic leadership, which the MCP is prepared and ready to offer in order to transform Malawi into a hub of progress, development and prosperity for all. This is our solemn commitment,” said Chakwera.
Chakwera said he will be travelling across the country urging people to bring change, saying Malawi need a reset, life is getting too hard for too many people
“Let us hit the reset button and power ourselves out of our current development quagmire,” he said,
The MCP president said his party want to engage with, and listen to private sector and businesses, organized labour, civil society, media, women, youth, students, traditional leaders, religious leaders, farmers, farmers’ organizations, think tanks and all other minorities.
“ Let us grab this as our life time chance to work together to design and develop a Malawi that works for us all irrespective of our standing in society. We can, and we will do it,” said Chakwera.
The opposition leader said through the public engagement, he will be sharing with the electorate the concrete policy positions that an MCP led government will adopt in order to create the Malawi people want in the shortest time possible.
“This is why we are very much looking forward to your feedback to stimulate and enrich conversations, dialogue and debates that will provide useful inputs into our concerted efforts to develop an appropriate mix of policies, and the strategic blueprint, which will catalyze the realization of a Malawi that works for us all,” he enthused.
Chakwera said he will kick off the engagement with an overall philosophical framework that will guide the MCP’s government and governance enterprise.
“Let me point out that we have thought about this carefully and systematically, and we strongly feel we can carve out a better Malawi, a Malawi that works for us all on the wings of a capable democratic developmental state.
“With my team, we have carried out a thorough diagnosis of the challenges holding back Malawi from realizing its potential, and our vision is that we have to build a capable democratic developmental state as a vehicle for Malawi’s fundamental structural transformation and sustainable inclusive development. This is not simply an option; it is a must, and the MCP under my leadership, is all geared up and ready to take on this onerous but noble task that will see Malawi’s fortunes turnaround in the shortest time possible,” said Chakwera.
Political observers say Chakwera must show those sceptical about his leadership that he has the ability and the ideas to win an election, and enable MCP to regain the support of Malawians after it was ejected from power when it ruled for 31 years of one-party dictatorship.
Chakwera was perceived as main challenger of the incumbent, Peter Mutharika, who is embroiled in a corruption scandal.
But the coming in of Malawi’s Vice-President Saulosi Klaus Chilima after he dumped q the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) citing unchecked corruption and nepotism, throwing his hat into the ring for the 2019 presidential elections on his United Transformation Movement (UTM) has changed the political landscape.
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Yes, Malawi needs philosophical frameworks, we tired of parties without ideologies. Populist promises have led the country down. Everybody shoes! 1 million jobs! Mufunseni Henry Kachanje how far went with a million jobs project. It failed miserably! I would not be surprised that this came from one Henry Kachanje
Kkk . We are really tired with Theoretical Frameworks
O Chakwera tell us what you will do to convince us, a vision envisaged becomes a reality. My reverend like you teaches us to dream in colours and what you say today with belief God won’wont put you to shame instead materializes it. So don’t be afraid to make promises for instance employing one million people within a specified period is attainable, just imagine there are two 5 star hotels being built in Blantyre one near Civic offices and the one near limi house. With these two only how many people can be employed, now what about other companies and the civil service which is understaffed in the ministries of education, health, agriculture, et. My good Chakwera never afraid to take risks even in politics, waiting to cast for you
Disappointed in oChakwera’s manifestation, as explained by the man himself, here.
He’s making politics seem like it is a game by sophisticates (ie. himself and other Party leaders), who only invite the ordinary folks play if they understand the game.
That is typical oChakwera: playing the sophisticated and an advanced accented American, no less. Malawians will NOT identify with this kind of mentality; and this is another MCP device towards another defeat, in the Presidential election anyway.
It’s no brainer: oChakwera should appeal to Malawians more than APM, because the former has breathed Malawi air all his life. But, to the contrary, he comes off as a wonna be. Malawians didn’t buy that last time; and they won’t next year either.
oChakwera does not have to dumb down any policy; all he has to do is explain in simple language, his plans to a better Malawi. How can he expect Malawians to trust him with running the country when he can’t even explain, convincingly, his plans. Plans that are meaningful to us, the citizens.
My last comment is this: it seems like oChakwera just woke up from a long winter slumber or hibernation (where has he been all this time the new King Mia has been in the limelight?) And maybe oChakwera needs to give his head another shake, after the hibernation, to clear his thoughts. This is very important, abale, if MCP are to avoid “Amayo ife, amayo ife/ atiberanso zisankho/ amayo ife, amayo ife/ aMEC atiberanso …” when the defeat was foreseeable.
What is your argument here or you are just argumentative?
Nanunso simudziwa other words beside “argument” in the same short sentence eti? Pitirizani sukulu achimwene.
Arguments are what comprises discussions: and the point here is that oChakwera’s ideas are half baked and not well explained for the Malawian on the dust road. Etc, etc.
Mwanva sopano?
What exactly are you trying to yap here? I can see you are prejudiced towards this man Chakwera.
Spend you energy wisely, you party needs you, you are not going to convert anyone here with your shall comments.
“shall comments” ndiye kuti chiani?
Good President! We need facts not fake dreams of making 1 million jobs without authentification, how can cheat like that. Ife timadana ndi zaboza. A Chair anati atipatsa fertiliza waulere koma adati sananene.
This man already made up his decision to stand for the presidency four years ago. You mean he didn’t know what to do? He would have come up with his reset idea four years ago, but now after hearing what SKC is promising, he wants to copy his ideas. Transformation agenda is with SKC.
Mwayamba mantha eti? Kkkkkk
With Mia and his sslamisation agenda, just forget. He said it himself why he decided to return to frontline politics.
Kulubwalubwa a Chakwela, your party has had 25 years to convince Malawians to allow it to lead. You have failed miserably because all you present is the past, not the future.
Chilima with just one rally has struck a chord with the population. Good luck catching up.
There was a diference of about 450 votes between APM and MCP and you said that he failed miserably??
450 votes? … peddling in false news apa!
Chakwera U r the man to be next president not by ur might but by God’s design. God called UTM to destroy DPP and DPP to revenge and destroy UTM before general elections. Otherwise there was no way DPP could allow MCP win. God is good all the time. Wait and see.
Join the discussion…big up,,ife ndi a chakwera basi mbava tatopa nazo,,adya idya nde pano aziti awa ndiakuba?nonse akuba 2014 u were the ring leader okuba lero uziti ufuna kutitsogolera hw cn we trust u?
Tell him. He should just come in open and tell us what his party has for Malawians.
Lazarus Chakwera ( MCP) rushed too early to make Sidic Mia as running mate, He should have waited until close to 2019 May in order to choose better candidate in prevailing circumstances. With Sidic Mia its too difficult, almost impossible to go into political alliances with other big and strong parties and candidates, 2019 is about numbers of votes. Don’t be surprised to see DPP and UDF despte bad press at the moment, winning the 2019 elections because of their alliance which will bring votes from the Yao, Lomwe belts and few from other parts of the country. With Atupele pairing with Muthalika, will make it harder for Sidic Mia to woo voters from Yao belts. In the end same old stories ATIBELA ATIBELA
Political alliances its not about who becomes a vice president NO.And stop having politics of tribal lines
Poor thinking
GOOD GOING MY PRESIDENT.. YOU’RE IN GOOD ORDER..
We don’t need philosophical frameworks, we are tired of those, give us a simple manifesto that we can understand
I thought as much…I don’t know what the Rev is putting across here… make it clearer
While I support you please present to all Malawians simple not complicated policies that are understood by few. Tell us your good universal fertilizer policy that a villager can understand. Tell us that MCP is a disciplined party and never allows corruption while these other parties want to steal. They are systematic thieves. Tell us you hv good education statement quota system becoz it’s MCP that used merit system anawa akungobera. Tell us Malawians that your constructions will be as strong as rocks not these fake roads or buildings. Cite examples of Kamuzu academy, Chancellor Colleague, NRC, M1 road and statehouses. Tell us that deaths due to accidents will be highly reduced as you will improve roads..Tell Us that sports will come into old days with proper support not is zomanguluza even to small teams/countries. Tell Malawians that UTM is more DPP than DPP A as founders such as Kaliati and Callister. Those left in DPP are indeed not genuine members as rightly put Kaliati and others.
Tell us Malawians that any party born out of frustration ends in frustration….
Tell us that rigging 2014 elections and Mchinji bye elections is not good for a leader.
Demonstrate that u ready to die for us………..
Nanu inu @ UDF=DPP=UTM:
Za “quota” zanuzo: Don’t you know that actually Kamuzu, whose Party you are championing, is the one who first introduced the system towards equitable distribution of education opportunities? Yes, the so-called “quota”. Both in secondary as well as in university.
A manifesto that is not rooted in a philosophical framework is empty. Its a collection of populist promises most of which are undeliverable.
you have a simple mind