By Chisomo Phiri
Nationalist Patriotic Party (NPP) President Daniel Dube on Tuesday launched the party’s manifesto in the capital Lilongwe, pledging sweeping reforms in the country’s agriculture, economy, public service, and healthcare sectors while committing to lead a corruption-free government.
In his address,Dube criticized the current Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP), describing it as a vehicle for siphoning public funds.
He pledged that, if elected, his administration would abolish the programme and introduce Agricultural Output Programmes instead designed to provide farmers with access to affordable loans for inputs.
To empower rural communities, the NPP leader said he plans to establish a community development bank, develop a commodities market for smallholder farmers, and scale up fish pond farming to build a robust fish industry.
Economically,he promised to restore macroeconomic stability by implementing a currency board system to stabilize the Kwacha, enforcing fiscal discipline in state-owned enterprises, and promoting indigenous entrepreneurship all while adopting a zero-tolerance policy on corruption.
In the health sector,Dube outlined plans to construct a clinic in every constituency, establish drug manufacturing factories, and introduce mobile clinics and telehealth services to improve access to quality healthcare across the country.
Malawi is set to hold tripartite elections on September 16 this year.
