Malawi Congress Party (MCP) running mate Vitumbiko Mumba has asked people of Karonga to vote for President Lazarus Chakwera in the September 16 General Election.
He held whistle-stop election campaign rallies in Rumphi, Chitipa and Karonga districts last week.
On Friday, Mumba interacted with prospective voters at Kambwe in Karonga Lufilya Constituency where he pledged developments that MCP will do once re-elected.
On her part, Fides Chavula from Zindi Village in Traditional Authority Kilupula said government should rehabilitate the Chiweta-Karonga section to the M1 to ease mobility and enhance trade.
“Right now we are taking seven hours to get to Mzuzu due to bad state of the road. This is affecting our businesses and referrals from Karonga District Hospital,” she said.
Another prospective voter Mwengiwe Mwalwanda said Karonga has potential to become a food basket district but farmers lacks technical support to enhance irrigation farming.
“On top of that, government should make fertiliser prices affordable. Again, we should have electricity, a healthy post because health people contribute meaningfully to the country’s development,” he said.
In response, Mumba, who is also Minister of Trade and Industry, said government through President Lazarus Chakwera will announce new prices of fertiliser.
“President Chakwera will soon announce new prices for the commodity to boost maize and rice production,” he said.
Mumba also said after rehabilitating the Kacheche-Chiweta stretch, government will immediately rehabilitate the Chiweta-Karonga stretch.
Paramount Chief Kyungu of Chitipa and Karonga while commending President Chakwera for picking Mumba as his running mate, urged politicians to conduct issue based campaign in the two districts to ensure peace during the campaign period.
