NKHATABAY (MaraviPost)—President of the main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) who is also leader of opposition in parliament Dr Lazarus Chakwera has hit back at the Peter Mutharika’s administrations propaganda which government has been passionately spreading around to convince gullible Malawians that him and the speaker of parliament Richard Msowoya are insensitive to the suffering of the Malawians in that they bought luxurious vehicles at a time the economy is on its sick-bed.
Speaking during a rally at Tukumbo in Nkhatabay, Chakwera without directly referring to government philosophically hit back at the Mutharika administration saying that “vilifying others, on issues that you have more control of and on which you are mandated constitutionally to control, is the last thing that will resolve our current and ever-increasing challenges.”
Below is the full transcript of the speech the MCP leader gave to the people in Nkhatabay.
Greetings once again, Ladies and Gentlemen
Today, Sunday November 1, 2015 is yet another milestone for the people of Nkhata Bay and for the Malawi Congress Party (MCP).
First of all, as those of you who are familiar with Malawi’s history may know, Nkhata Bay is the home of MCP. MCP was born in Nkhata Bay. This is a fact.
Typical of a teething nation, a lot of things happened since then to now. As a party, we have learnt from history.
And today, with the support and guidance of many Malawians, here we are, looking and waking into the future with an inclusive sustainable development agenda that is pro-people.
To lend weight to this, is why you have heard Mrs Aleke Banda, expressing satisfaction with the direction and footing of this new MCP.
Ladies and Gentlemen, be aware that mere talk about sustainable development and all these buzz words does not develop a country.
Singing, marching and carrying placards with vague references to SDGs, will not drive Malawi out of her current woes.
Vilifying others, on issues that you have more control of and on which you are mandated constitutionally to control, is the last thing that will resolve our current and ever-increasing challenges.
Against this background, and because we in MCP are inherently different, with a DNA that is untainted by corruption, nepotism and pettyism; we are determined to stay focussed and we will faithfully employ three Building Blocks.
These are:
1) Sustainable and people driven Development. Call it development of the people, by the people, for the people if you want.
2) Entrenching Democracy by giving the requisite mandate and resources to institutions that harness democracy in Malawi.
3) Upholding human Dignity so that each and every Malawian should feel valued and equal regardless of region or district of origin, political party affiliation and what have you.
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to expound on the MCP Building Block Number One: Sustainable Development.
Recently, you have been witnessing a tug-of-war. Contracts, reportedly secured by one administration, have been rebranded and another administration is going around claiming credit.
In a novel or a film or drama, this would be funny. But since this happening in our mother Malawi, it can only be sad. Sad because we are sinking to new depths in mediocrity.
Are we so bankrupt, idea-wise, that we have to plagiarise ownership of initiatives instead of just proceeding with implementation knowing that running a country is like a relay race in which the baton changes hand?
In MCP, we believe that programmes and projects should not be sidelined or rebranded in order to erase the efforts made by our forerunners. This, is retrogressive and must stop, today.
Why does everyone want to start their own thing at the expense of the people suffering for lack of services and sustainable development initiatives?
Why are we resigning contracts which previous administrations already signed? In aid of what?
The issue before us, the more pressing need we have, is diversifying our agriculture away from tobacco and instituting mechanism that will enable value-adding initiatives at household and local level.
If we can do this, we will reverse our tag of being a perennial net importer.
In this regard, MCP will keep demanding that the Executive listens to us and acts what our economists are saying and steer away from the directionless course they have taken.
Come 2019, this is where we will start.
On Building Block Number Two: Democracy and Good Governance,
I want to reassure you that MCP, as demonstrated by our convention of 2013, remains unchallenged as the only truly democratic party in Malawi.
No one should cheat you that when MCP gets into government, it will do the bad things that happened during one party rule.
Let me give you an example, you have read recent media reports about our State spying organ.
Is that agency controlled and manned by present day MCP members? And is what it is doing, i.e. fabricating falsehoods, democratic? Do I, Lazarus Chakwera, give NIB instructions to fabricate lies against CSOs and political rivals?
Now, who does that?
The ones controlling NIB are the ones taking our democracy down. Full stop. And, they are not MCP. Therefore, be alert, and match their words against their deeds if you want to safeguard our Democracy.
In this new MCP, we encourage debate in all spheres of our lives. People deemed to be against you or me should not be condemned. They should rather be given space to point out what they think should be done differently.
We should as a party, and as a nation, sit down to discuss the different points of view.
In this regard, those calling for an MCP extra-ordinary convention should know that I have heard their plea. We do not right now have the money for a convention. But at an opportune time, we will meet to discuss, amicably.
Permit me now to clarify Building Block Number three, Human Dignity.
On this point, let me first, acknowledge and thank the honourable Member of Parliament of this area, Hon Emmie Chinthu Phiri – Independent MP, for joining us here.
Let me also acknowledge the Traditional Leader, TA Chilakoma, whose presence here proves that the people of Nkhata Bay are champions of the democracy we are enjoying, which entails living and working together, as one nation.
This is how we should live together. Again, I want to remind all leaders that the value and honour you aspire for as a leader, is a reflection of the status of the people you are leading.
Uplifting the dignity of your followers, means that you are uplifting even your own status. If you look down on the people following you, you are demeaning your own status regardless of what or where you have been.
To conclude, Development, Democracy and Dignity are inseparable. Without Development, the people cannot have Dignity. Without Democracy, people cannot have Dignity and if the people have no Dignity, no self-respecting leader can claim to have succeeded.
It is that simple.
We have to be careful at all times because one can easily be derailed by pursuing too many agendas. We should build this country by topping up on the foundations laid down by our predecessors.
From 2019 onwards, we in MCP, will see to it that no worthwhile project is neglected because it was started by a rival party, no. This is childish.
With these remarks Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to thank you for coming to speak to us, and for letting us talk to you. Trust the MCP, we are together with you, and stay with us.
With your support as demonstrated today, your MCP will soar like an eagle, and rise to bring sustainable Development, entrench Democracy, so that each and every man and woman, boy and girl, can live with human Dignity.
God bless you ALL
Dr Lazarus Chakwera – President
MCP: A Better & Prosperous Malawi is Possible