Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and People’s Party (PP) Sunday held separate rallies in the City of Blantyre faulting the ruling Democratic Progressive Party of failure to provide leadership on national issues.
Speaking during a rally at Nyambadwe ground, MCP president Lazarus Chakwera condemned the use of youth to perpetrate violence at opposition rallies.
Alliance for Democracy (Aford) president Enock Chihana and Malawi Forum for Unity and Development (Mafunde) president George Nnesa attended MCP rally.
“We are one people and allowing political differences to separate us is suicidal. Even in differing views, there is unity. Don’t destroy the future of our children by sending them to political battles. Those who are using the youth in violence should know that such young people will one day turn against themselves,” Chakwera said.
While thanking people of Blantyre, more especially Ndirande, for being peaceful throughout the rally, Chakwera said the opposition leaders are not frustrated losers as some people have been describing them but said they are just providing checks and balances.
“We wish this country well and we don’t have any ill-will. As opposition, we give our views on what needs to be done for all Malawians to be happy with the socio-economic environment of the country. However, there are some people who think we express our views because we are frustrated because we lost an election. But let me tell them that we are not frustrated people.
“We are in opposition to offer an alternative view where we feel it is needed and that we do…maybe we should adopt what other countries use, that is, majority government and minority government,” he said.
Chakwera, who shared with the audience the news of the rejected Anti-Corruption Bureau Bill and President Peter Mutharika’s stance on presidential powers, advised Mutharika to walk the talk on integrity, describing the leadership without integrity as a valueless leadership.
“I should agree with the President on his campaign for integrity among Malawians. As we strive to end the relationship between Malawians and poverty integrity should be our motto. If we are to end corruption which characterises almost all government projects we need integrity,” he said.
And addressing people at Makhetha ground in Machinjiri Township, PP acting president, Uladi Mussa, said Mutharika has failed to run the nation with numerous challenges cropping in the country.
“This government is failing to solve social-economic problems, which Malawians are facing. You know everywhere you need a leader to lead people in actions and in solving problems. So we have seen that the statements and the way they are running the government, issues being raised nationally, they are not really helpful for Malawians,” said Mussa.
Meanwhile Mussa has quashed claims that he is clinging on to the PP presidency against calls for an early convention.
“I don’t see that there are any problems in PP. If you read section 11 of PP’s constitution, it says when the president is away or is incapacitated, it is the president herself who can appoint one of the vice presidents to become the acting president,” he said.
Mussa said, in the absence of President Joyce Banda, he was only the vice president, the rest run away when they were left out on the nomination of running mate.
Leave a Reply