MCP’s Mia impresses during running mate debate – Analyst
Mzuzu-based social and political commentator Emily Mkamanga has said Malawi Congress Party (MCP) presidential running mate Mohammed Sidik Mia strengthened his case to be vice president with a good performance im the first televised debate ahead of May 21 Tripartite Elections at Bingu International Convention Cente (BICC) auditorium in Lilongwe.
The debate on Thursday night was organised by private broadcaster Zodiak where panellists unanimously agreed that poor leadership has led to a decay of fundamental values the country’s democracy was founded on.
In that encounter – when there were four vice-president hopefuls on stage – Mia set the ball rolling.
“Best leadership will come through servant leadership uniting all Malawians is key to progressing together,” he said.
He took pride of his performances when he served as Cabinet minister in former president Bingu wa Mutharika’s regime, saying one of his works in the BICC where there was debate.
“This place we are here, is a fruit of my work,” said Mia.
Mia managed to provide practical policy solutions to Malawi’s challenges. He was seen as matured, able to manipulate the mind and has shown his vast exeperince of the private sector and its role in driving the economy.
Analysts says Mia was light on his feet and heavy on detail when necessary tackling women empowerment, education and private sector issues.
“On all issues discussed, I think Sidik Mia was the best,” said Mkamanga in quotes reported in the local press .
“He clearly explained what Malawi Congress Party (MCP) will do when it goes into government. He was also positive in the way he articulated issues.
“It was easy fro him to change someone’s mind to vote for MCP. He was very convincing,” said Mkamanga, who is also a newspaper columnist at The Nation.
MCP president, Lazarus Chakwera commended Mia for his good show during the night.
“Thanks well done Hon Mia. You have represented us well,” Chakwera tweeted.
Other presidential running mates who participated in the debate were Jerry Jana of People’s Party, Frank Mwenifumbo of United Democratic Front (UDF) and Micheal Usi of UTM.
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Everton Chimulirenji did not turn up for the debate.
The second running mates debate is scheduled for March 14 at Comesa Hall in Blantyre.
Meanwhile, Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Malawi is also organising debates for selected presidential hopefuls in the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections to take place on March 29 and April 5.
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MIA was reading his answers!
Letting your wife be an MP is that women empowerment for the family or natiion. Giving business to people with albinism is that security them. Construct houses for them that is a long term solution remember chakwera said within a month will have the solution…which houses can you built within a monttmh….tents? Extension workers up to the extent of having vehickes…blue lie . Giving licences to all small miners…playing cards or licence? Getting licences in Malawi is atiresome job to Malawians who are poor. How can Mia promote small scale business when he is monopolising livestock industry in the lower… Read more »
akulu inu muli ndi nzeru!
A game of opposition parties! Keep on debating, your friends are doing it right now! Mpikisano wa otsutsa olamulira boma tili pheeee!
I must have been watching a very different debate. The candidates failed to clearly articulate the root causes of our problems and as a result there were no tangible and feasible solutions offered. If anybody has a single problem area where a feasible solution or approach was presented by any of the candidates, kindly share it!
I was impressed by Chimulirenji’s no show. This was planned to bring him to shame and kusabwera kwake kwapangitsa kuti tidziwe kukhala ndi PhD ya kaya ndi dzuko la Cyprus kaya kuti sikutanthauza ndiwe dolo. Ba panganani rank nokhanokha wathu ali phee 2019 boma!
Mia is the only trusted running mate who has proven beyond reasonable doubt that he can assist the country. MCP engineered by him and Dr. Lazarus Chakwera is the only last hope we have as Malawians let us put them in government by any means this country will have to improve in different areas as manufacturing, business, infrastructure, health, education, loyalty to our nation (which has reduced over time). Malawi will not be a dumping site but will ably grow..right now university students are not perceived as university students ..they are just loitering in town during lunch to look for… Read more »
You should be praising UTM, the reverse side of DPP but still same coin
Zosadabwitsa zinamveka kale kuti a Mia anawonera mayeso. Presidency doesnt need experience. I watched all the runningmates performed fairly. Dr Jana as well as Dr Usi they did very well.
They may have done well in the debate, but that is inconsequential when it comes to winning the Presidency.
SIDIK is Genius, Paring with Pastor Chakwera they can make Malawi abetter nation to live
Mia did ok. Only problem is his words dont match his actions in PP, DPP and UDF. Who gave all those contracts to the Portuguese? Who helped facilitate building of Ndata by Mota?
He’s old wine repackaged in an even older poisonous bottle!