By Burnett Munthali
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Publicity Secretary and Minister of Higher Education Jessie Kabwila has declared President Lazarus Chakwera the clear favourite for the September 16 general election, describing him as a “Development Machine.”
Speaking at the Kamuzu Banda Mausoleum during a parade that formed part of the MCP manifesto launch activities, Kabwila projected confidence that the party’s organisational groundwork has already positioned it for victory.
She asserted that the MCP capitalised on the voter registration phase to ensure its support base was fully captured on the roll.
“You heard them crying that their potential voters did not register.”
“For us, we made sure our supporters registered to vote,” she told reporters.
Kabwila framed President Chakwera as the only presidential contender with what she termed an unblemished personal and professional record.
She said his governance approach reflects transparency, fairness, and a refusal to tolerate theft or nepotism.
According to Kabwila, the administration has deliberately ensured that infrastructure development—roads, schools, bridges, and hospitals—has reached every district.
She highlighted what she views as transformative gains in higher education under Chakwera’s leadership.
These gains, she said, include expanded university spaces, upgraded facilities, improved learning environments, and broader access for students from rural and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
“We are not just building roads and hospitals; we are investing in minds.”
“Under Dr Chakwera, Development Machine, we’ve expanded university spaces, improved facilities, and introduced more equitable access for needy students and those from rural areas,” she added.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Kasungu East Member of Parliament Madalitso Kazombo reinforced Kabwila’s message by praising what he described as tangible delivery across multiple sectors.
“Who else can we vote for if not Chakwera?” Kazombo asked the gathered supporters.
He cited developments in Kasungu East—roads, hospitals, schools, and bridges—as evidence that government promises have translated into physical outcomes.
Kazombo credited the President with practising inclusive governance that spreads public investment across regions rather than concentrating it in a few political strongholds.
“President Chakwera doesn’t just talk, he acts.”
“We’ve seen real change in rural communities where development was previously a dream,” he said.
Kabwila and Kazombo jointly positioned the manifesto launch as both a celebration of first‑term achievements and a mobilisation moment for a renewed mandate.
They linked the party’s agenda to themes of food security, job creation, wealth creation, governance reform, and strengthened public service delivery.
The launch drew party loyalists, youth representatives, community leaders, and grassroots organisers who rallied behind the strategic messaging.
MCP strategists emphasised grassroots mobilisation as the backbone of the campaign architecture.
They argued that fulfilled promises and visible projects furnish the narrative depth for voter persuasion in a crowded electoral field.
The framing of Chakwera as a “Development Machine” seeks to crystallise a campaign identity centred on continuity of delivery rather than experimental change.
Supporters at the event treated the slogan as both a rallying cry and a shorthand for policy consistency.
The leadership projected confidence that administrative performance, institutional reforms, and sectoral investments will resonate with undecided voters.
They signalled readiness to contrast their record with opposition critiques as the formal campaign period advances.
As the countdown to September 16 proceeds, the MCP message is calibrating a blend of performance validation and promise extension.
Party communicators appear intent on converting organisational preparedness during registration into turnout efficiency on polling day.
The manifesto launch thus functions simultaneously as narrative consolidation, morale elevation, and strategic signalling to rivals.
Whether the “Development Machine” branding will sustain momentum through the campaign’s inevitable scrutiny and contestation will become clearer in the weeks ahead.
For now, the MCP hierarchy is projecting disciplined optimism anchored in what it claims is a track record of delivery and a structured roadmap for continued national transformation.
