Mia endorses Atupele’s candidature

Former People’s Party (PP) vice-president (Southern Region) Mohammed Sidik Mia yesterday endorsed opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) presidential candidate Atupele Muluzi during campaign rallies in Machinga and Mangochi districts.

Mia, who resigned from President Joyce Banda’s Cabinet while serving as minister of Transport and Public Infrastructure in January this year, told a rally at Kapoloma in Machinga that Atupele was the right presidential candidate to steer the country to new heights.

Mia, in a speech monitored on Joy Radio, said Atupele has all the credentials to govern Malawi, including good education.

The former minister, an influential figure in the Shire Valley and among the Muslim community, said Atupele is the only leader who can bring in transformational leadership Malawians have been yearning to have.

Said Mia: “I am out of politics, but I have decided to endorse Atupele. Malawi needs to focus on challenges we are facing and that can only be made possible under the leadership of Atupele. We need to overhaul our economic system.”

The former Chikhwawa Mkombezi legislator said Atupele has shown all the leadership skills and asked Malawians to give him a chance.

In his speech, Atupele said if Malawi is to truly transform, it requires a political and social revolution.

He said the nation, 50 years after attaining independence, needs new thinking and new ideas. He said Malawians have to demand for economic change.

Mia was PP’s vice-president for the South and his resignation followed that of another PP vice-president for the Central Region Cassim Chilumpha.

Following recent resignation of State Vice-President Khumbo Kachali last week as PP’s vice-president for the North, it means that the governing party lost all its three vice-presidents as it faces its first electoral test.

After his resignation from Cabinet and PP, Mia said he wanted to live a private life after being in politics for too long.

Malawi goes to the polls Tuesday.