Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) might be keeping a tight lid on the contents of their 2014 manifesto but on Saturday the party’s presidential candidate in the race for Malawi’s number one office on May 20 unravelled some things it has in store for Malawi particularly on education.
During a stop over in Zingwangwa, Blantyre which was one of the many scheduled stop points in a whistle stop tour that took him to Chigumula, Bangwe, Ndirande and Chilomoni, Peter Mutharika assured young people of attaining vocational training in their own localities once voted to take over the country’s highest office.
“We all can attest to the suffering that our youths are going though due to unemployment [in this country]. I have a program specifically meant for you [the youths]. If you give the DPP to lead again in May 20, this time around we will turn [some] colleges that the country has into Community Colleges.
“You will be given mandate to decide the time you will be going there learn the various vocational skills they will be offering be it in the evening, weekends or during the day,” said Muntharika adding that the program will empower young people to be self reliant.
For women, he said the DPP lead administration will afford them a chance to return to school to upgrade themselves through an enhanced adult literacy program so that they too can develop.
He assured people of his candidature in the presidential race in the May 20 tripartite election scoffing at assertions that he will not be legible due to his holding of an American Green Card.
“Those that say that I will not stand in the May 20 eviction are afraid of me. They are bringing up the issue of a Green Card to block my candidature but with God’s help it will not work,” said Muntharika who spoke for about none minutes.
Mutharika has come under fire from various sections of the society over his eligibility to stand in the forthcoming May 20 Tripartite Elections with an argument that his holding of a green card meant that he owes allegiance to the United States.
He has since vowed to fighting on the mater even if it meant facing his challengers in a court of law.
The DPP presidential aspirant together with fellow party gurus, former Chief Secretary Bright Msaka, former ministers Goodall Gondwe, Henry Mussa, Vuwa Kaunda, Patricia Kaliati, Nicholas Dausi, Jean Kalirani and Kondwani Nakhumwa is also accused of planning against the ascendancy of President Joyce Banda to the country’s highest office following the demise of ex- president Bingu wa Mutharika in 2012.