Tag Archives: Former President and People’s Party (PP) leader Dr. Joyce Banda

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Women paint Karonga Orange…JB inspires fellow women; Road to Malawi’s May 21 polls

Maravi Post Author

Karonga women paint orange

 

By Arnold Mnelemba

 

The Karonga Museum modern hall was packed beyond capacity. Women braved the heavy sun and walked distances to attend the best ever women’s conference held on Sunday, March 10.

 

Former President and People’s Party (PP) leader Dr Joyce Banda who was invited as a guest speaker at the function gave a most inspiring and nerve moving speech giving hope to women and small-scale entrepreneurs.

 

The women were drawn from clusters and are established business women setups.

 

Dr. Banda refrained from talking active politics but dealt much on the agenda of the meeting, business and women empowerment.

 

She said women empowerment is fundamental  and pivotal in fostering various economic development in the country.

JB with women in Karonga

Dr Banda advised women to aim at effective social economic transformation through small-scale businesses as well as hard work.

 

The former Malawi leader said women’s role in development cannot be overlooked hence the need to motivate and empower them in various business ventures.

 

” As a country, we cannot talk of women empowerment and economic development if women continue to be sidelined in business initiatives which usually frustrate their efforts” she said.

 

The former head of state disclosed that she has collaborated with leaders of neighboring countries such as Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe in an effort to uplift women welfare in the country.

 

The PP leader also emphasized her total commitment in achieving her goal of promoting and transforming  women’s lives through loan acquisition and skills development.

 

“I started doing business way back in 1981 and since that time a lot has happened in my life.

 

I have achieved a lot through business hence I can comfortably say that I am a leaving example of what business can do to a person’s life,” Banda said.

 

Dr. Banda further pledged full support to women who venture into business activities saying that is her main ambition, uplifting their social economic status.

 

Banda took time to share her historical background in which she explained how she managed to turn around her fortune to attain financial freedom and urged women to follow suit.

 

On her part, chair lady for Karonga women federation group Memory Munthali said some challenges are choking their efforts to grow their business ventures.

 

Munthali stressed that women in the country have a role model  in Dr Joyce Banda hence appealed to fellow women to cherish and support fellow women like the former state president.

 

“Women in Karonga are geared up to work with Dr. Banda in order to learn from her on how she managed to excel in her business life”  Munthali said.

 

About  10, 000 business women attended the conference at Karonga Museum in which Dr. Banda was invited as the guest speaker.

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Malawi Former President JB touts her running Jana

Maravi Post Author

JB and her runningmate Jana

 

By Elijah Phompho, MEC Stringer

 

Former President and Peoples Party (PP) leader Dr Joyce Banda on Tuesday told thousands of supporters who attended the rally she held at Traditional Authority (T/A) Mlilima’s area in Chikwawa that her choice of former chief executive officer for the grain marketer Agricultural development marketing corporation  (ADMARC) Dr Jerry Jana as her running mate  was made after thorough consultations..

 

Band’s remarks come after she had earlier on  told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that she would not compete in the forth coming elections giving way to UTM party leader Dr Saulos Clause Chilima in an electoral alliance between her PP and the UTM before she pulled out four days later.

 

JB said: “I would like to start first by introducing my running mate to you, Dr Jerry Jana. I can  challenge that of all the running mates, he is the best running mate ever,”.

 

Dr Jana’s first degree is in forestry management and then he did Masters degree in Business Management and went further to do Phd in management and he once headed the Malawi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCI). He was also Malawian ambassador to the European Union (EU).

 

“Therefore, I did not just wake up and name him my running mate for the sake of it as I know that running a country is a very serious business,” Banda said.

 

At the rally the former president said once elected as the president she intends to ensure that there is total income circulation in the country through a program dubbed ‘ndalama mthumba’

 

The former president said she intends to a achieve this by protecting the informal business sector in the country by reviewing taxes that are impeding small scale businesses. JB also said she shall raise the current minimum wage to MK40 000.

 

The former President further said she has already set aside money totalling about 10 billion kwacha which shall be given as loans to small scale businesses. She also said her government shall increase electricity generation in the  country to 3000 megawatts to boost the manufacturing industry.

 

The former president said she intends to continue her ‘Mudzi Transformation Project’ by creating what she called smart villages. She said she shall make sure that at each village there shall be a health center, school and that in each village there shall be solar electricity.

 

Dr Banda added that her second regime shall revamp the agricultural sector in the country by giving out universal fertiliser subsidies and ensuring that there are enough markets for agricultural commodities.

 

Chikwawa rally was the second public appearance for the former president after a fall out of an electoral Alliance between her PP and the UTM party.

Malawi, Politics

Nkhatabay Chiefs hail former Malawi leader JB

Maravi Post Author 1 Comment

 

JB

 

By Arnold Mnelemba

 

Chiefs in Nkhatabay have pledged total support to former President and People’s Party (PP )leader Dr. Joyce Banda in her quest to achieve sustainable social economic development for the country.

 

The chiefs made the pledge at a meeting where the chiefs invited Dr. Banda at Mpamba, in the area of Traditional Authority, T/A Timbiri, in Nkhatabay.

 

The chiefs converged at World Vision Hall and were drawn from Nkhatabay North West constituency and neighbouring constituencies.

 

The Chiefs decorated Dr. Banda for spearheading development projects that are of great value to the people of NkhataBay.

 

T/A Timbiri of Nkhatabay said the Former Malawi leader did her best to restore chief’s dignity in within her 2 year term of office.

 

Timbiri heaped praise to Banda who he said initiated various development activities for the people of Nkhatabay.

 

Timbiri said it is very unfortunately that some of the projects initiated by Banda have been abandoned.

 

”We are aware that you are the one who started construction of Mzuzu-Nkhatabay road. Whatelse would one ask for from a caring leader,” said Timbiri.

 

The chiefs have since called upon the People’s Party President to reason with the authorities to ensure that problems affecting people in the area are dealt with once and for all.

 

They cited lack of adequate school blocks, Mpamba hospital which is in dilapidated state and Mpamba market as examples of some state responsibilities that have been obligated.

 

Meanwhile, Dr. Joyce Banda has assured the chiefs of her continued support towards social economic development as well as personal development of every Malawian especially the less privileged and the vulnerable.

 

”What I did from 2012 to 2014 was phase one. This time, I am coming with phase two. Pro-poor development agenda that is going to uplift welfare of fellow Malawians,” said Banda.

 

She took time to explain on how she intends to uplift lives of rural people especially women through provision of free and portable electricity.

 

Dr. Banda said she will start an initiative that will see every household getting portable electricity for lighting, phone charging and cookery.

 

The PP President assured the chiefs that she knows which buttons to touch in a bid to ensure that the rural electricity program as well as other pro-poor programs are well executed and effectively achieved.

Nkhatabay chiefs 

The former Malawi leader also spoke on education, agriculture, health, energy and mining, social protection as well as wealth creation and economic empowerment.

 

Speaking before Banda was the party’s Vice President for the North Ralph Mhone who commended Banda for accepting the chief’s call to visit them.

 

On her way, Dr Banda made an abrupt stop at Sanga Trading Centre where she assured the people of her commitment to address challenges many Malawians are facing.

 

The former Malawi leader is currently on a tour of duty in the northern region.

Politics, Top News

Former Malawi leader JB invades Lomwe belt with voice of hope beyond May’s elections

Maravi Post Reporter
JB-in-Lhomwe-belt

 

PHALOMBE-(MaraviPost)-Former President and People’s Party (PP) leader Dr. Joyce Banda made yet another stride marking a new start of year when she stormed Phalombe.

 

With new hopes of the electoral year, 2019, Dr. Banda addressed a political rally that was patronised beyond expectation.

 

The former Malawi Leader held the rally at Nazombe Primary School, Group Vilage Headman Makhonya, in the area of Traditional Authority, T/A Nanzombe in Phalombe.

 

The former Malawi leader has requested President Mutharika through his Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and the ruling DPP functionaries to stop harassing chiefs and beneficiaries of projects she initiated in her reign of office.

 

Dr. Banda was touched by a complaint from people of Kwindimbule where she constructed houses for the needy under the Mudzi Transformation Trust.

 

Dr. Banda told the gathering that she was shocked to learn that some DPP members are demanding demolition of Mudzi Transformation Trust houses which are along the Zomba Jali road.

 

Dr. Banda said time is now that the country should move to adopt national development agenda policy.

 

She said it is worrisome to note that most of the projects left during her term are still lying in limbo, a practice which she said is retarding the progress of development in the country.

 

”We need to take responsibility of our development agenda regardless of any political attachement,” said Banda

 

Continuing with her agenda, phase 2, Dr. Banda said the need for new measures for economic recovery can not be overemphasised.

 

She bemoaned the growing poverty levels amongst Malawians saying time is now that political leaders should stop playing with human diginity and lives.

 

”We need to revamp our economy. under the Economic Recovery Plan, ERP, we managed to revamp the economy that was in a devastitating state in 2 years. Phase 2, we are going to come up with another milestone, a plan that will bring joy to Malawians,” said Banda.

 

The former Malawi leader retariated her call for need to revoke continuous license renewal for motorists.

 

She said the process has proved to be a burden to many young Malawians who earn a living through driving.

 

JB, as she is popularly known, said poverty alleviation and wealthy creation are key to her agenda.

 

She said her government will introduce 10 billion kwacha loan scheme to help support small scale enterprises.

 

Dr. Banda said social protection is paramount to any caring government that has welfare of people, especially the poor and the underprivilaged at heart.

 

The former Malawi leader pledged to continue fighting for the rights of the poor and the vulnerable.

 

”I will continue building houses for the poor,” said Banda.

 

On agriculture, Dr. Banda said that she will revamp ADMARC to it’s lost glory.

 

She said it is government’s responsibility to see to it that farmers are selling their farm produce at good and worthy prices.

 

”I hear people were selling pigeon peas at 30 kwacha per kilogram. That is not fair and it must stop,” said Banda

 

At this point, the People’s Party leader assured Malawians and people of Phalombe of a universal subsidy farm input program.

 

”I promise cheap fertilizer for all,” she said.

 

The former Malawi leader told the gathering that she will not relent in her efforts of ensuring that people in Malawi have power, all day, everyday.

 

She also spoke on health, education, evironment, energy and mining as well as social economic development in her phase 2 agenda.

 

Before addressing the rally in Phalombe, Dr. Banda was forced to stop and speak to people at Jali trading centre in Zomba.

 

Also in attendance at the rally was senior chief Chiwalo of Phalombe.

 

Over 50 members of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, DPP defected to PP