Chibambo chides donor dependence

that to stop

President of the People’s Transformation Party (Petra), Kamuzu Chibambo, says Malawi suffers from a disease called ‘donor aid’ that has affected the development of the country.

He was addressing a sizeable group that attended the party’s national conference at MPC Hall in Blantyre.

Chibambo retained the presidency of the party after amassing 116 votes defeating challenger Hayster Chimdzakadzi. Six votes were declared null and void.

In his acceptance speech, Chibambo said Malawi has reached a helpless level where even building a simple house or rearing animals need assistance from the donors.

He said he takes his election as a challenge and will make sure he steers Petra to greater heights.

“If our party is voted into power, we will make sure that Malawi moves from a donor dependent country to an economically independent State. The people of Malawi have for the past 50 years been carried on the backs of donors. We want that to stop. We want Malawi to be economically independent,” he said.

Chibambo said Petra has declared war on the dependency on donor aid, adding that a country cannot talk of freedom without economic freedom.

Steve Kamwendo was elected secretary general of the party, which was formed in 2002.

Petra is the sixth party to hold its convention after People’s Party (PP), United Democratic Front (UDF), Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and the New Labour Party (LP).