Vice-President Michael Usi has advised the youth in Nkhata Bay District to become self-reliant instead of depending on cash handouts from politicians for their livelihoods.
Usi, who is also Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu party president, said this on Tuesday in the district where he conducted a whistle-stop tour that took him to Chombe, Lwambazi and Mpamba in Traditional Authority Timbiri.
He said: “The youth should be involved in the economic development of this country. They should run small-scale businesses other than waiting for handouts.
“Handouts cannot develop the country. So they should not look up to politicians for handouts.”
Usi then appealed to registered voters not to accept handouts as that would influence them on the choices they would want to make.
The Vice-President also appealed to those entrusted with Constituency Development Fund to be accountable on how they utilise the funds.
Speaking during the event, Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu Nkhata Bay-Mpamba Constituency shadow parliamentarian Nancy Mwenda
appealed to registered voters to vote for her in the September 16 General Election.
She said she is the solution to some of the challenges the area is facing and pledged to help rectify them once voted into power.
“We have devised a plan to put people, especially youths into groups to access loans to start small-scale businesses and also be able to acquire various skills to improve their livelihoods,” said Mwenda.
In his remarks, Senior Chief Timbiri said he would provide a level playing field to all candidates to campaign, including women candidates such as Mwenda.
Before his rallies in Nkhata Bay, Usi conducted rallies in Mzuzu on Monday where he also announced that he had collected the presidential nomination papers.
Malawians are heading towards the September 16 General Election to elect President, members of Parliament and councillors
