By Isaac Salima:
The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Alliance for Democracy (Aford) Sunday launched a joint manifesto with a promise to introduce free secondary education and remove development fees in primary schools.
This is contained in a 92-paged manifesto which the parties launched at Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre yesterday.
Organising chairperson for the event, Collins Magalasi, told the gathering that the manifesto would focus on four pillars of agricultural production and commercialisation, urbanisation, industrialisation and decentralisation.
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Some party technocrats in various sectors took time to unpack what, if voted into power on September 16 this year, they have in store for Malawians.
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On the issue of free education, the parties said they would like to make education accessible to all.
The alliance has also promised Malawians that it will be allocating K5 billion towards the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Currently, government allocates K200 million to CDF.
DPP and Aford have also vowed to allocate K100 million to every constituency for the youth to be accessing loans.
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On the issue of the economy, the parties have promised to grow it by 6.5 percent annually.
The former governing party and Aford also said they would bring back the former State-owned electricity single buyer Power Market Limited, which the current administration dissolved.
DPP president Peter Mutharika did not attend the launch and delegated his running mate, Jane Ansah, who presided over the ceremony.
In her remarks, Ansah said that they were convinced that they would deliver on their promises.
“This is a solemn contract with the people. The manifesto spells out concrete pillars in quality healthcare, good governance, uplifting women and empowering young people. Through the manifesto, hope for Malawi has been rekindled. This is the manifesto where you will find innovative ideas to create jobs. Our journey will not be easy but, with courage and unity, we will make it,” she said.
On his part, Aford president Enoch Chihana said people have lost hope in the current administration.
“As such, the alliance has been formed to be a solution to challenges that Malawians are facing,” Chihana said.
Meanwhile, education rights advocate Benedicto Kondowe has urged political parties to provide a clear roadmap on the issue of free education.
“Malawi must draw critical lessons from the chaotic implementation of free primary education, which suffered from inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortages and underfunding—mistakes that must not be repeated.
“A genuine commitment to this policy requires a clear, costed roadmap, sustainable financing mechanisms and a serious review of current capacity gaps. Amending the Education Act is only meaningful if backed by practical steps that ensure quality and equity in access, not just ambitious declarations,” Kondowe said.
Speaking at a joint press briefing that DPP and Aford organised on Saturday, officials said they had agreed to use the DPP manifesto as the Aford manifesto has similar issues with those raised by DPP.
