Vice-President Michael Usi yesterday unveiled the Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu manifesto dubbed Rescue Plan for Malawi ahead of the September 16 2025 General Election focusing on 12 priority areas.
Unpacking his rescue plan yesterday at Mtupanyama Village, Traditional Authority Likoswe in Chiradzulu, the Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu presidential candidate said if voted into power in next week’s election, his administration will prioritise recovery of Malawi’s economy, fight against corruption and criminalise political interference in hiring of public servants.
Usi said his government will create a strong, stable and secure environment for the country’s economic development.
He said: “The Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu leadership acknowledges that despite initiatives by previous governments to rebuild Malawi’s economic foundation, the current administration has presided over a sharp deterioration across key indicators.
“The Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu government will champion a deeper Sadc [Southern African Development Community] market by fast-tracking the removal of tariffs and non-tariff barriers within existing regional protocols, easing customs, and improving trade facilitation so Malawian firms can sell into a consumer base numbering hundreds of millions across the two blocs.”
In health, Usi, who was appointed the country’s Vice-President after the death of former Vice-President Saulos Chilima in a military plane crash in June 2024, said his administration will achieve free primary healthcare for all Malawians starting with women, expectant and breastfeeding mothers, and persons with disabilities by increasing health financing and protecting frontline budgets.
He also said he will ensure that every family can access a fully equipped health centre within seven to 10 kilometres, supported by community health workers focused on prevention and follow-ups.
In agriculture, Usi said his administration will provide fertiliser subsidy through interest-free loans channelled via farming clubs and savings groups.
Queried on the timing of the plan’s launch which is 48 hours from the end of the official campaign, he said there was nothing peculiar about launching yesterday, saying key issues in his rescue plan are what he has been talking about during his entire campaign period.
“Today I am simply saying what I have been talking about is in this rescue plan. It is not too late. If I were to say I am starting today to go out there and start talking about what I would do, that would indeed be too late,” said Usi.
In a separate interview, group village head Mtupanyama expressed satisfaction with Usi’s approach of unpacking his manifesto.
She described it as “unique” saying it provided an opportunity for her subjects to ask questions on issues they failed to understand.
Usi launched his Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu political party on April 27 at Masintha Community Ground in Lilongwe ahead of the September 16 2025 General Election.
