Kuwani presents papers
Peter Kuwani of Mbakuwaku Movement for Development (MMD) yesterday became the third presidential hopeful to present his nomination papers to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) in preparation for the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections.
In his five-minute speech after presenting the nomination papers to MEC chairperson Jane Ansah at Comesa Hall in Blantyre, Kuwani called for a fair and peaceful election and asked MEC to accord a level playing field to all candidates.
However, articulating his manifesto to the press in an interview outside the hall, Kuwani promised to reform and restructure the education sector by among others employing 12 000 teachers by December 2019, revamping the health sector to ensure universal health coverage and removing Pay As You Earn (Paye) on all salaries less than K100 000.
The MMD leader also pledged to support small businesses as well as the youth by reducing tuition fees in colleges, providing decent accommodation and meals in colleges as well as abolish quota system.
Commenting on his running mate, Archibald Kalawang’oma, Kuwani said he wanted to achieve a balance in regional representation, good public standing and adherence to law and order.
“We are trying to come up with somebody who is clean and new in politics because we did not want political vagabonds who are jumping from one political party to another claiming to the nation that they have changed when they have not,” he said.
Second to present her nomination papers yesterday was former president Joyce Banda of People’s Party (PP) who withdrew her party’s alliance with UTM Party after only 72 hours.
According to Ansah, another presidential candidate who was expected to present his nomination papers yesterday, Chris Bullah of Democratic Federal Alliance (DFA), had asked MEC for a reschedule. He has since been allocated Thursday.
Saulos Klaus Chilima of UTM is next to present his nomination papers at 9am today followed by Dr Chris Daza of Democratic People’s Congress (Depeco) at 11am, Ras Chikomeni David Chirwa, Independent 2pm and Phunziro Mvula, Independent at 3:30pm. n
