JB says politicians exploiting voters
People’s Party (PP) president Joyce Banda says politicians take advantage of Malawians to sell false promises during election campaign period.
She made the remarks on Sunday during a political rally held at Chibavi Primary School ground in Mzuzu.
The former state president said it was wrong to see poor Malawians struggling and eating buffalo beans when their leaders promised them a better life.
Banda further said it was a cause for concern that a lot of Malawians were sleeping on an empty stomach.
“We take advantage of you Malawians during election time. The people are the bosses. We get votes from you.
“I am supposed to be concerned. There has to be a way to help you people access cheap fertiliser,” she said.
Banda suggested that Malawians should embark on commercial agriculture, saying such is what can provide people with both food and money.
The PP leader mentioned Northern Region as one of the country’s most fertile lands.
She said: “We will revamp the subsidy programme. We used to give fertilisers on loan. Not everyone can afford fertiliser at the current prices hovering around K100 000.”
Banda also said the country is in a health crisis where people can no longer access the most basic drugs, including painkillers.
She mentioned that 6 out of 12 women are dying every day from maternity complications, while inviting the donor community to take charge of the country’s health budget.
The PP leader also took a swipe at the rising deaths caused by kabaza motorcycle accidents.
She said the kabaza transport system, which she claimed to have introduced after distributing free motorcycles during her regime, has been claiming numerous lives of the youth on the roads due to poor traffic regulation policies.
“I started the programme at Lirangwe. I used to distribute the bikes. Later, the boys formed an association I did not know the kabaza initiative would be so big.But they [kabaza operators] should graduate to taxis and buses,” she said.
Banda said PP is capable of solving challenges facing the country and urged party followers to work hard to bounce back into government.
On the 2025 General Elections, she said PP will hold discussions with Mafunde Party for a possible working relationship.
Banda served as president of the country between April 2012 and June 2014, following the death of Bingu wa Mutharika on April 5 2012 due to a cardiac arrest.
Caption: Banda captured during the rally at Chibavi Primary School.
