Malawi Congress Party (MCP) presidential running mate Vitumbiko Mumba says President Lazarus Chakwera’s re-election bid is anchored on a practical and integrated development plan focused on food security, wealth creation and responsive public service delivery.
Addressing a rally in Malomo, Ntchisi on Sunday during his first rally since being unveiled as Chakwera’s running mate, he outlined five core pillars that he said summarise the MCP manifesto, which he described as the most coordinated and achievable in the country’s democratic history.
Top on the list is food security, which he stressed the need to build strong national reserves to cushion citizens from recurring disasters.
Mumba, who is also Minister of Trade and Industry, cited the manifesto’s provision for the National Food
dependency on external humanitarian assistance.
“We should be able to keep our own resources for the sake of disasters. When floods or droughts strike, Malawians must not suffer or wait for handouts. We should be ready to respond using what we have,” he said.
Justifying the feasibility of the MCP’s plans, Mumba cited his own K500 million Mumba Revolving Fund initiative in his Mzimba Central Constituency as evidence that well-structured development programmes can work.
Speaking earlier, MCP secretary general Richard Chimwendo Banda took a jibe at rivals Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) presidential candidate Peter Mutharika whom he described as too old to even attend his own manifesto launch.
He also disclosed plans to elevate more traditional leaders ahead of the September 16 General Election.
Chimwendo Banda, who is also Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture, said this at Ntchisi Community Ground on the sidelines of the installation of Chikakula Gwaza Jere as Traditional Authority (T/A) Vuso Jere and the elevation of Sub-T/A Kavwenje, real name John Dixon—to T/A.
