Mutharika upbeat 2019 re-election, rubbishes MCP
President Peter Mutharika says his administration’s intense development programmes will propel him back into office in 2019 election, saying the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP)has virtually nothing to offer to Malawians.
Mutharika was speaking on Tuesday when he was officially launching the K3.9 billion ($7.2million) Lilongwe City West bypass road which has been funded by the African Development Bank as part of Nacala corridor.
“There are some people who don’t want development in this country, they don’t wish you well. This is why they are saying a lot of things against me,” he said.
He said the MCP literally failed to develop this country for the 30 years they were in power yet the DPP’s eight years has witnessed massive development across the country.
Mutharika said the MCP busy insulting him while the governing DPP is busy developing Malawi, a move he said assures him of the second and last term of office in 2019.
“The MCP deserve to be in opposition, that’s where they belong, after all. They don’t have a clear agenda of this country,” he said.
He said the DPP will be unbeatable and will emerge stronger than before in 2019 because of its development track record that will make the party sweep parliamentary seats in the central region and weaken the MCP which he said takes the region as its power base.
“After adding the seven Chinese funded projects to our development, the MCP will tremble, they will collapse with fear. They will prove that we indeed unbeatable,” Mutharika.
MCP officials were not readily available for comment Tuesday.
Infrastructure development
Commenting on the Lilongwe City West Bypass road, President Mutharika said the road is another testimony of his government’s progress and part of a bigger vision of the DPP Government.
“We have opened this road in order to improve the route connecting Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. At the same time, we are reducing traffic congestion in our capital city,” said Mutharika.
“I want Lilongwe to be a different place in a Malawi that is different.”
He said DPP had lined up many projects that works of his hands will speak for himself at the end of his first term.
“ Yes, the Green Belt will bring us sufficient food and end hunger. Yes, community colleges and skills development will create jobs and businesses for us.
“Indeed, the Malata subsidy project will give our people decent homes. And yes, direct investment will bring money to Malawi. But we also need a good road network. And this must start from the heart of the country.”
Mutharika pointed out that in August this year, his government launched the construction of the Kasiya–Santhe Road, saying construction work is now in progress.
“. We are now going to construct a new Lilongwe City East Bypass. And we are soon making a dual carriage from Kanengo through Area 25, Area 49 to Mchinji Road. This will reduce traffic congestion and complete a beautiful ring road around our capital city.
“But we will also construct a dual carriage between the Parliament roundabout and the Kamuzu Central Hospital roundabout. And another dual carriage between Parliament and the Area 18 roundabout! The dualisation of the M1 from Kanengo to Mchinji roundabout will also happen soon.”
Mutharika said his government is also completing the major construction projects that stopped for over two years.
“We are resuming construction of the Dowa-Lumbadzi Road and contractors are already on site. We are resuming construction of the Zomba-Jali-Phalombe road, the Thyolo-Makwasa Road and the Lirangwe-Chingale road. The Mzuzu–Nkhatabay road is being handed over to the contractor before this year ends.”
He said the reconstruction of the Liwonde – Mangochi road begins soon in the new year.
“We are proceeding to reconstruct the M1 road from Karonga Boma to Songwe border. And as I speak now, we are upgrading the road to Misuku Hills of Chitipa with grading, construction of concrete pads and tarmac application. Every part of this country must open up.
“When I am done with these projects, we will all be able to see why Malawi is land-linked and not landlocked!”–Additional reporting by Wanga Gwede, Nyasa Times
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