The spirit of independent presidential candidacy continues to roar in Malawi with Thoko Banda announcing that he is confident of winning as an independent candidate in next year’s tripartite elections.
Forty-nine-year-old Banda, son to former veteran politician the late Aleke Banda, said this on Monday at the College of Medicine Sports Complex in Blantyre at the launch of his initiative for a better Malawi.
Said Banda: “This is not about personalities. This is not about political parties. These things have been tried and have failed Malawi. We need a new chapter, we need to start practising politics based on policies.
“I know people will doubt my standpoint. I accept that. It is good to be sceptical to other viewpoints. But I believe I have the right policies the country needs. I pray the nation to join and support.”
He said he is ready to support any person who puts Malawi first and wants to contest as a councillor and a member of Parliament (MP).
“I want Malawians to help me mobilise anybody out there, especially the youth, to compete in all the sphere of the country’s political influence,” said Banda, who revealed that he has a number of friends across the world ready to support his cause.
Banda—who shot to political limelight early this year after announcing that he will join the Agenda for Change discussions spearheaded by Atupele Muluzi—said he feels little change is taking place on the ground.
Asked if there is any difference between his candidacy and that of James Nyondo who contested as an independent during 2009 general elections, Banda said: “James came with pretty great ideas, however, there are some implementation tactics which he got wrong.”
Apart from Nyondo, Banda becomes the third politician in the country to contest as an independent presidential candidate. Former vice-president Justin Malewezi was the first during the 2004 elections. Both did badly.
