Chilima says DPP owes 2014 victory to him
Vice-President Saulos Chilima has said Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) could not have won the 2014 polls without him on the ballot paper.
The VP said this on Saturday at a UTM rally at Chule Primary School in Dedza in reaction to sentiments from the governing DPP that he is ungrateful. He argued that it is the DPP that is unappreciative of his role in the 2014 polls.
“It is an insult to say I’m being ungrateful by deciding to take my own move because, as a citizen, I have my own right to make a decision. I remember well, they used to come to me many times, begging me to take up the running mate position. I helped them and they won. What they are saying now is just noise in my ears,” he said.
Chilima urged people in Dedza to open their eyes and vote for UTM in next year’s polls, pledging that his administration will bring a huge impact while maintaining his promise that he will create one million jobs within his first year in office.
In his remarks, group village head Nyombe asked Chilima to prioritise farmers during his presidency, saying small-scale farmers are struggling because they are not making profits due to lack of markets for their products. The chief also said they are not benefiting from Farm Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp) and asked Chilima to reduce the price of fertiliser to an amount every farmer can afford.
Reacting to the concerns, Chilima said Dedza is lagging behind in development and promised a change if he makes it in 2019.
Meanwhile, Chilima has assured people in the country that the 2019 Tripartite Elections will be free and fair, saying people should not lose trust in electoral body. He said Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah is the right person to head the commission and should not be forced to leave her office.
