MCP promises better life

Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) yesterday painted Lilongwe in its party colours of red and green as it officially began the journey to woo voters in the run-up to the May 20 Tripartite Elections with the launch of its manifesto promising a better life for all.

MCP had a media launch of the manifesto at its headquarters in Lilongwe earlier in the day before the public launch at Masintha Ground in Kawale Township where its presidential candidate Lazarus Chakwera addressed a rally.

Opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) also had its launch at the Bingu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe later in the day.

Unveiling the MCP manifesto under the overarching theme of ‘Nothing for us without us, better life for all: 2014 and beyond’, Chakwera said his party has identified seven strategic areas it hopes would transform the socio-economic spheres for Malawi to become the productive nation that it was meant to be.

The seven areas MCP said it identified through a consultative process and incorporated government policies such as the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS), Vision 2020 and the Economic Recovery Plan (ERP) include policy and institutional reform, agriculture and food security, infrastructure development, education, health, youth development, energy and mining.

Chakwera said the bedrock of the party’s manifesto rested on MCP’s cornerstones of discipline, unity, obedience and loyalty which would work to put in place an effective public service system delivery for all Malawians.

Said Chakwera: “Discipline brings with it honesty which is important for an effective public service and private sector. It is important that things we have witnessed today such as theft and fiscal indiscipline do not happen again.”

Highlights of the MCP manifesto also include institution of a New Partnership for Malawi Development which would focus on shifting dependency from aid to self-reliance through mobilisation of resources through foreign direct investment while taking charge of design and implementation of foreign-funded programmes in the country.

Chakwera said creating a climate conducive to the country’s economic growth would entail job creation in the private sector and subsistence farming and youth employment.

“MCP is concerned over the high levels of unemployment, especially among the youth. We will encourage investment in areas which will in turn create jobs, but we will also put in place career-bridging programmes and internships so that the youth are ready to take the nation forward,” Chakwera said.

MCP has promised to implement a reorganised distribution system of the agricultural input subsidy programme using a universal approach.

On industry and trade, MCP said it would introduce duty imports on raw materials, establish financing mechanisms to facilitate exports and construct trade fair grounds in Lilongwe and Mzuzu.

The manifesto launch which was conducted jointly with the campaign launch brought to Masintha Ground Malawians from all walks of life, in civilian clothes and in MCP party regalia.

Not to be outdone by the campaign and manifesto launches held previously, the MCP leadership arrived at Masintha Ground with pomp albeit in not so poshy vehicles.