By Pemphero Malimba:
People’s Party (PP) president Joyce Banda launched the party’s manifesto Monday, which includes plans to introduce free secondary education in the country.
Banda unveiled the manifesto at a ceremony in Lilongwe. She had previously hinted at the ‘free secondary education’ proposal, despite critics claiming it is impractical.
The manifesto outlines several key focus areas, including transforming the country through irrigation farming and agricultural mechanisation, introducing free secondary education, ensuring public hospitals are well-equipped with sufficient drugs and trained medical staff and developing rural growth centres to create decent jobs for young people.
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It also proposes a cash-for-work programme, where people will carry out community projects, such as road paving, in exchange for monetary payments.
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Banda said that Malawi is grappling with both economic and social challenges that need to be addressed urgently.
“I come before you with the experience necessary to rescue the country from the current economic, developmental and social chaos.
“I present myself to the nation to offer the decisive leadership needed to restore, rebuild and re-energise Malawi’s journey to becoming a country that everyone can proudly call home,” she said.
Banda added that the party’s manifesto is crucial for transforming key sectors of Malawi’s society.
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She said PP recognises the “painful challenges the country is facing, including shortages of foreign exchange and fuel, which have severely impacted economic activities”.
PP Secretary General Ben Chakhame announced that, if the party is voted into power, it would facilitate the recruitment of 100,000 youths to work in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
“Officials in Dubai have already confirmed this to us. We will be selecting these youths from various districts across the country,” Chakhame said.
He urged the party’s candidates to focus on issue-based campaigns ahead of the elections.
“Let us focus on our manifesto during rallies. This manifesto is designed to transform the country from its current state, where many people struggle to make ends meet due to the rising cost of goods and services,” Chakhame said.
George Nnesa, president of the Malawi Forum for Unity and Development (Mafunde), said PP’s manifesto closely resembles that of Mafunde and announced his party’s support for Banda’s campaign.
The manifesto launch was attended by PP members, as well as individuals from Freedom Party, Mafunde and the People’s Development Party, among others.
During the ceremony, the party presented certificates to its parliamentary and local government election candidates from all over the country.
