United Democratic Front (UDF) president Atupele Muluzi has promised Malawians a swift economic recovery if his party wins the September 16 General Election.
Speaking on Saturday during a whistlestop tour in Machinga District, he said the country’s economy is in bad shape and people are facing hardships.
Atupele, son to former president Bakili Muluzi, said he will help end the country’s foreign exchange crisis, revive businesses, secure a steady fuel supply and provide affordable fertilisers to farmers to improve crop production to end hunger.
He said: “When we left government in 2004, the exchange rate was K106 against the United States dollar. Today, the exchange rate is K4 500 against the US dollar on the black market.
“This shows that UDF knew how to manage the economy. We brought in free primary school education and introduced Masaf[Malawi Social Action Fund], food-for-work programme, starter-pack, among others.”
Atupele said school enrolment doubled in UDF’s first year in power while literacy levels rose from 36 percent in 2004 to 74 percent by the time the party left office.
During his tour, from Mangochi Turn-off Market in Balaka to Mpiri Trading Centre in Machinga, Atupele engaged small-scale business operators to understand how economic challenges have affected their operations.
He visited markets at Liwonde, Nsanama, Ntaja and Mpiri where some vendors lamented that the rising cost of goods was pushing them out of business.
“Prices keep going up every week, but customers have no money to spend. We are forced to sell at a loss just to get something for our families’ survival,” said Amani Mussa, a shop owner at Liwonde Market.
Meanwhile, former Machinga East legislator Esther Jolobala (UDF) encouraged registered voters to turn out in large numbers and vote on September 16.
She lamented that while many people in Machinga vote freely, there is still a high number of spoiled or invalid votes being recorded.
