Mia says DPP just makes empty promises as Chakwera brands MCP a ‘govt-in-waiting’
Lower Shire political giant Sidik Mia said many people in the area has been supporting ruling Democrtaic Progressive Party (DPP) but they promise and promise and never do, saying all they have got left is Malawi Congress Party (MCP).
Mia, a former Cabinet minister in DPP regime under late president Bingu wa Mutharika, recently joined MCP and is building support for the party in the Lower Shire and some parts of the south where the main opposition has been a no go xone area.
Speaking on Sunday at a rally at Bangula Ground in Nsanje ahead of the October 17 by elections, in Nsanje-Lalanje constituency, Mia said Malawians are fed up with empty promises and need a government that will bring positive change.
“ There is poor governance and that affects delivery of services and development. Corruption is legitimate concern and we’ve got recognise that and talk about it,” he said.
He called on people in the area to vote for MCP candidate Lawrence Sitolo “with pride”.
MCP president Lazarus Chakwera, who is also Leader of Opposition in Parliament, drummed up support for Sitolo.
Chakwera promised to deliver “power for the people” when MCP is ushered in power and calls on the DPP to “make way”.
He said there will be “radical programme of action” in 2019 when MCP is given the ballot’s mandate to govern.
Chakwera asked people to vote for MCP’s parliamentary hopeful Sitolo as a member of “government-in-waiting”
He also asked Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) to conduct credible, free and fair elections, pointing out that most Malawians have lost trust in the electoral body as indicated in an Afrobarometer survey released recently.
Chakwera added that the 2014 tripartite elections were full of irregularities fraudlent.
“This is a litmus test for Mec to restore trust Malawians lost in 2014 elections. At least when the 17 October elections are credible and fair, people will have an idea of the 2019 tripartite elections,” he said.
Describing MCP as a “united party advancing in every part of Malawi” Chakwera claimed they are now “winning the confidence of millions of fellow citizens” as Malawians need change of leadership as the current one has presided over a period of grand corruption.
The Nsanje-Lalanje by-election has three contestants Gladys Ganda of DPP, Lawrence Sitolo for the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and Winnie Wakudyanaye standing on an independent ticket.
The constituency fell vacant following the death of the then member of Parliament (MP) Sam Ganda on May 16 2017.
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