Handouts won’t take Malawi anywhere—Atupele
United Democratic Front (UDF)’s presidential hopeful Atupele Muluzi says Malawi can repeat its failures in economic strides as has been the case in the last 50 years if masses continue to rely on handouts.
Speaking to a crowd gathered on Sunday at Kasungu Community Ground on Sunday, Atupele said the country is better off focusing on agriculture and developing its natural resources.
The party has since pledged to revamp the agricultural sector, which he emphasised will remain the country’s economic backbone for years to come.
Among others, Atupele said his party will phase out the national targeted input subsidy programme and will be replace it with universal fertiliser scheme. He argued the former has only managed to spread anger and poverty across the social structures.
“The world is changing. Africa is changing and yet Malawi seems to remain stagnant.
“There is no way we can keep on clinging onto handouts when we have got all this land and water resources. The world is surely justified to pour scorn at us when we continue carrying our begging bowl around the globe. The problem is that we have slumbered too much as a nation for our own good. It’s time to rise up and map our destiny as a people and this starts with electing visionary people,” he said.
In a clear departure from the ‘benchmark’ set during his father’s era, Atupele openly spoke against handouts; arguing the UDF is now a transformed party.
He also warned the masses against banking their hopes on politicians who get handouts; adding the country has more challenges than meets the eye.
“Twenty years in democracy and Malawi still trades its vote with party cloth and a T-shirt? Others are into livestock distribution, and more. Can these temporary material gifts see us through various socio-economic challenges for the next five years when such politicians are basking in the echelons of power and seemingly forget those who ushered them into such positions?
“It’s time to change; to decide. The country has got many other able individuals who can steer the national development agenda forward so much that we can’t afford to have the same people dominating our politics. They have all failed and we need to rethink our future.”
Before addressing the Kasungu rally, Atupele, who was returning from his week-long tour of the North, had some stop-overs at Jenda and Nkhamenya.
Yoh! This guy is talking the truth.
Interesting, coming from Muluzi Jnr. Lest we forget, “handouts” were the totality of Muluzi Snr’s economic policy.
the boy has courage former leaders including his own dad. thats what malawi need
Yes what Atupele said is very true for how long are we going to depend on handouts? Let us take the responsibility as Malawians so that we see where we are failing and moreover a lot of people think of praising the leader even when somethings are not going on well
He is not offering anything New. Whatever he said is what the current government is doing. What do you do in a crisis situation? when people are starving not because they are lazy but because mother nature has been unkind, do you just let them die because you have some “bright policies” I would rather have a president who has the welfare of the people as a priority, who sees that the grassroots basic needs are met, forex is available, fuel is available. Some policies only make sense on paper and when everything else is working light. I see you have a long way to go young man! Politics without handouts does not exist in Africa
He can’t practice what he preaches ndizamu Mbale jst Like the former what gets in someones mind when u hear people sing a song from the Same song sheet
People are dying because JB deliberately made the maize in the Silos go bad, stole the remainder and packaged it in branded PP bags with her face to boot so she can use people’s plight for camping. Cann’t you see that you PP die hard fool! Were you not warned by John Kapito? If JB had people’s welfare at heart, she would have taken care of the maize in the grain reserves(that Muthalika so carefully kept), would not spent billions putting her ugly face on maize bags. How many people are starving and how many have receive her bags of maize? People are queuing for days to buy 10 kgs at Admac. PP idiots!!!!
Mavalo ako iwe. We don’t need your kind of mindset in Malawi. Where else have you seen presidents giving out stuff at public rallies? If the president has welfare of all the people, let her come with policies which will benefit everyone not just a few!!. Go back to school. Young Muluzi is offering a different kind of politics not the type being practised by this woman who does not have a clue. we need to change the way people view the world. Malawi continues to remain backward because of people like you and the likes of Joice Banda.
HANDOUTS IS NOT A SOLUTION, EVERYBODY WILL LIKE TO GET IT EVEN IF HE IS ABLE TO GET IT AT COST. THIS IS LEAVING A LOT OF MALAWIANS BEING LAZY IN THE VILLAGES. PEOPLE GO FOR FREE MAIZE SIT THERE FOR A WHOLE DAY JUST TO BE TOLD ABWANA AKUTI LERO SAGAWA KOMA MKUCHA. ( THE MASTER SAYS HE THERE IS NO DISTRIBUTION TO DAY TILL THE DAY AFTER 2MORROW. NO BODY HAS A SAY BECAUSE HAS NOT WORKED FOR IT WHERE IS THE HUMAN RIGHT HERE? ATSOGOLERI SIYANI KUGAWA ZINTHU PHUNZITSA ANTHU KUGWIRA NTCHITO MOLIMBIKA KUTI ADZITHA KUPEZA ZAO ZONSE POGWIRA NTCHITO. MUKUGAWA NSALU KOMA MUDAKADZIWA MMENE ANTHU AKUZIGWIRITSIRA NTCHITO MUSADAKAPITIRIZA KUGAWA KONSE. NGATI MUKUFUNA KUDZIWA ANTHU A CHIPANI CHANU AUZENI AGULE NSALU YA CHIPANI CHANUCHO APO MUTHA KUONA NGATI MULI NDI OKUTSATIRANI AMBIRI KAPENA AI. APO AI MUDZINGOWERENGERA MBEWA NDI MICHIRA YOMWE.
Kamwana ka tsinzina mtole aka. Chakwera for President!
Mwana woti bwanji mpaka kunyoza bambo wake? Nde azatinyoza ife anthu wamba bwa? (If the young Muluzi heaps scorn, albeit subtly, his Dad’s modus operandi (handouts), why should we expect him to respect the average Malawian?) The young man is full of rhetoric, and he has not experienced life in the trenches long enough to develop credible economic ideas for a country. He has lived a only a life of bwana, thanks to the elder Muluzi and his ill-gotten wealth. Give Atupele maybe twenty years before he can contest for the presidency of this country. Atupele, simunakhwime ai. (Have patience, Atupele: but now is not your chance. Your time will come).
Thats very true young Muluzi..looks like you are really ready to govern & govern well..we need visionary leaders like you..the others are too myopic to steer us into real development..May 20 will change everything for the better
Yes, we need visionary leaders but Atupele’s is myopic vision. I can believe him if he can come on the podium blaming his farther for sowing this seed of handouts. During Dr Banda and Dr Bingu we never saw handouts as we see them today. Look at this two gentlemen, they are all distinguished learned men. Now look at Bakili Muluzi and this lady JB, the JCE and MSCE holders. What could we expect from them handouts. Moreover is not that maybe Islam’s one pillar is about giving that these 2 fellars have similarities (BM and JB)
In short Atupele first go and ask your farther why he introduced politics of handouts then report to us your voters. I am giving you the 9th of January as reporting date. Kumaganiza pobwebweta wamva.