Four officially in Presidential race

Following the presentation of nomination papers by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera and his People’s Progressive Movement (PPM) counterpart Mark Katsonga Phiri on Tuesday, the number of contestants in the May 20 2014 presidential race is now at four. The two separately presented their nomination papers to Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) officials on the second day of the exercise at the Chichiri International Conference Centre, popularly known as Comesa Hall, in Blantyre. The duo followed in the footsteps of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) president Peter Mutharika and United Independent Party (UIP) torch-bearer Helen Singh who presented their papers on the first day of the exercise on Monday.

Speaking after submitting his papers and receiving a candidacy certificate from MEC chairperson Supreme Court Judge Maxon Mbendera, Chakwera said he has solutions to problems facing the country such as poverty, ever increasing commodity prices, low wages and hunger. He described salaries civil servants are getting as nyenyeswa (crumbs) which cannot motivate them to be productive and contribute to economic growth. Said Chakwera: “It is sad that Malawi has good arable land, but most of it is not utilised. And the security is worse. In fact, my six-year-old granddaughter knows that the country is in trouble as the computer was stolen right in the vehicle.” He expressed concern that some people are buying voter registration cards in exchange for commodities such as fertilizer and sugar. He called on MEC, an organisation he claimed to have trust in, to investigate the reports. Chakwera was buoyed by the presence of his predecessor John Tembo and former official government hostess Cecilia Kadzamira. The Comesa Hall was filled with people wearing party cloth and badges bearing founding president Hastings Kamuzu Banda’s portrait. Chakwera, accompanied by notable MCP personalities that included his running mate Richard Msowoya, newly appointed secretary general Gustav Kaliwo and director of elections Joseph Njobvuyalema, was welcomed by songs that likened him to the change Malawi needs. Drums, singing and dancing saturated the hall and things reached the climax when Mbendera received Chakwera’s nomination papers.

Mbendera’s recognition of Tembo and Kadzamira drew wild applause from the audience, some of whom broke into dance in front of Chakwera. Mbendera told Chakwera and his MCP to follow a civilised campaign by avoiding mudslinging. He gave the same advice to DPP and UIP the previous day. After presenting the nomination papers, Chakwera and his colourful motorcade toured Blantyre’s populous Ndirande Township. In the afternoon, Katsonga Phiri and his running mate Jacob Mbunge submitted their nomination papers. Katsonga Phiri took to the podium at Comesa Hall to sell his party to the electorate, observing that his presentation of nomination papers to MEC is the new beginning for Malawi. He said it is time to transform Malawi, but asked Malawians to change their mindset on the choice of leaders. Katsonga Phiri said Malawi is in the situation it is in because the electorate have in the past voted leaders based on regionalism; some based their voting on fame or presumed size of the political party. He observed that Malawi’s persistent problems of hunger, disease and envy stem from poverty which was confirmed by PPM’s research. “To solve these problems vote for leaders with the right skills regardless of where they come from or which party they belong to.

After extensive research for 10 years, PPM produced a 20-point plan which is key for national development,” said Katsonga Phiri. Some of the issues in the plan are abolishment of government Consolidated Account, financial empowerment of local government structures, strengthening of councils through capacity building, reforming Admarc to benefit farmers and establishment of investor friendly banks. Katsonga Phiri ferried supporters in a fleet of his Axa buses while his personal cars, including a Hummer, added pomp to the colour on his arrival and departure at Comesa Hall in Trade Fair Grounds.