Politicians reflect on 2012
Politicians on Tuesday took time off to reflect on Christmas, which marks the birth of Jesus Christ, by preaching civilised politics and suggesting a way forward to revive the economy.
The ruling People’s Party (PP) advised Malawians to avoid politics of confrontation as Malawi President Joyce Banda’s administration goes about fixing the battered economy in 2013.
PP secretary general Henry Chibwana said the party hopes for a fruitful 2013 given that so far the Banda administration has tried to fix the troubled economy.
He said in 2013 people will enjoy the fruits of reforms Banda instituted after succeeding the late president Bingu wa Mutharika. The reforms include devaluation of the kwacha by 49 percent.
Said Chibwana: “The economy is in trouble, yes. But demonstrations will not mend anything. It [the situation] was not invented by the current government. So far, government is succeeding. The best thing is not to be confrontational. Demonstrations would only worsen the situation.”
Former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said it looks back at 2012 as a painful year when the party lost its founder and president, Bingu wa Mutharika.
Said DPP spokesperson and Mwanza Central MP Nicholas Dausi: “It was a painful year. The new administration made a paradigm shift from the policies we had initiated. The Farm Input Subsidy Programme [Fisp] is rocked with logistical challenges and we anticipate there will be hunger next year. We believe the programme has been handled without much needed care.”
He said the party has no personal vendetta against anybody and that the same should be replicated by other political parties.
“Let us embrace love, peace and unity, that would be my message as we bid farewell to 2012 and welcome 2013,” said Dausi.
United Democratic Front (UDF) secretary general Kandi Padambo said 2012 was a year of twists and turns.
Said Padambo: “Our president [Atupele Muluzi] was arrested when he launched the Agenda for Change. There were two camps which confused party supporters but the convention has now made the party stronger. UDF is now one.”
He said he is optimistic that UDF will bounce back into government in 2014, judging from the crowds that graced the party’s rallies.
On the national front, Padambo said 2012 was a sad year because of Mutharika’s death, but was quick to add that the party is proud that there was a smooth transition that ushered in President Banda.
He bemoaned the scarcity of fuel and forex that engulfed the country early this year.
Friday Jumbe, formerly of a splinter group in UDF but now interim president of the New Labour Party, said the death of Mutharika was a tragedy which brought a lot of disturbances to the country’s policies.
On forming the New Labour Party, Jumbe said it was a bold decision which has set him and others free.
Jumbe described 2013 as a year of electioneering and hopes that his party will come up with a right formula as it prepares for 2014 tripartite elections.
George Nnensa, Mafunde president, described 2012 as a year of mixed feelings. He said Malawi should learn from the problems it has gone through and listen to the citizenry.
He alleged there is rampant corruption, theft and financial leakages in government which have to be tamed to attract and maintain donor confidence in 2013.
Politicians reflect on 2012
EMMANUEL MUWAMBA
Politicians on Tuesday took time off to reflect on Christmas, which marks the birth of Jesus Christ, by preaching civilised politics and suggesting a way forward to revive the economy.
The ruling People’s Party (PP) advised Malawians to avoid politics of confrontation as Malawi President Joyce Banda’s administration goes about fixing the battered economy in 2013.
PP secretary general Henry Chibwana said the party hopes for a fruitful 2013 given that so far the Banda administration has tried to fix the troubled economy.
He said in 2013 people will enjoy the fruits of reforms Banda instituted after succeeding the late president Bingu wa Mutharika. The reforms include devaluation of the kwacha by 49 percent.
Said Chibwana: “The economy is in trouble, yes. But demonstrations will not mend anything. It [the situation] was not invented by the current government. So far, government is succeeding. The best thing is not to be confrontational. Demonstrations would only worsen the situation.”
Former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said it looks back at 2012 as a painful year when the party lost its founder and president, Bingu wa Mutharika.
Said DPP spokesperson and Mwanza Central MP Nicholas Dausi: “It was a painful year. The new administration made a paradigm shift from the policies we had initiated. The Farm Input Subsidy Programme [Fisp] is rocked with logistical challenges and we anticipate there will be hunger next year. We believe the programme has been handled without much needed care.”
He said the party has no personal vendetta against anybody and that the same should be replicated by other political parties.
“Let us embrace love, peace and unity, that would be my message as we bid farewell to 2012 and welcome 2013,” said Dausi.
United Democratic Front (UDF) secretary general Kandi Padambo said 2012 was a year of twists and turns.
Said Padambo: “Our president [Atupele Muluzi] was arrested when he launched the Agenda for Change. There were two camps which confused party supporters but the convention has now made the party stronger. UDF is now one.”
He said he is optimistic that UDF will bounce back into government in 2014, judging from the crowds that graced the party’s rallies.
On the national front, Padambo said 2012 was a sad year because of Mutharika’s death, but was quick to add that the party is proud that there was a smooth transition that ushered in President Banda.
He bemoaned the scarcity of fuel and forex that engulfed the country early this year.
Friday Jumbe, formerly of a splinter group in UDF but now interim president of the New Labour Party, said the death of Mutharika was a tragedy which brought a lot of disturbances to the country’s policies.
On forming the New Labour Party, Jumbe said it was a bold decision which has set him and others free.
Jumbe described 2013 as a year of electioneering and hopes that his party will come up with a right formula as it prepares for 2014 tripartite elections.
George Nnensa, Mafunde president, described 2012 as a year of mixed feelings. He said Malawi should learn from the problems it has gone through and listen to the citizenry.
He alleged there is rampant corruption, theft and financial leakages in government which have to be tamed to attract and maintain donor confidence in 2013.
