By Chisomo Phiri
The main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which once ended the Junior Certificate of Education (JCE) citing funding challenges, has now promised that once voted into power in the upcoming September 16 general elections, it will bring free and compulsory secondary school education.
Speaking at the party’s manifesto launch at Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre on Sunday, the manifesto chairperson Collins Magalasi said the party will also abolish examination fees and development fund in schools.
He said the examination fees will come from government coffers because many students fail to write exams due to lack of school exam fees.
Magalasi added that the party will provide special loans for teachers so that they do not get katapila.
He also disclosed that the former ruling party will allocate K5 billion annually to each and every constituency in the country.
He said among others, K100 million will be for women business loans, another K100 million for youth loans, and K50 million for youth programmes in every constituency.
“The money will come from the locally generated resources,” said Magalasi.
He also said they will give every civil servant a house.
Below are detailed promises in the DPP manifesto:
1. Development Money for Every Area • Every constituency will get K5 billion every year to use for development projects.
• Out of this:
o K100 million will go to youth business loans
o K100 million to women business loans
o K50 million to youth programs
• The party says the money will come from locally generated resources.
2. Houses and Support for Civil Servants • Every civil servant will be given a house.
• Teachers will get special loans to stop them from depending on loan sharks (katapila).
3. Free Secondary Education • Secondary school will be free and compulsory.No more paying for school development fees or exam fees.
4. Smaller, Smarter Government • DPP says it will:
o Cut down the size of Cabinet
o Reduce spending at State Residences
o Review Value Added Tax (VAT ) exemptions for some public officers
• They also promise to negotiate a special IMF credit facility within six months, suited to Malawi’s economy.
5. Power Sector and Economy • Bring back Power Market Limited (PML) as the only electricity buyer to improve the energy sector.
• Grow the economy by 6.5% by 2030.
6. Move Some Government Offices Back • DPP plans to reverse the move of headquarters for Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), Malawi Housing, and Prison Services back from Lilongwe to their original locations.
7. Extra Plans • More hospitals will be built to improve healthcare access.
• They will reform the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) loan system so each area gets its fair share for business development.
