By Burnett Munthali
Former President of Malawi and current leader of the People’s Party, Joyce Banda, has assured Malawians that once elected into government in the upcoming elections, she will work tirelessly to restore the country’s economy.
Banda said her top priority would be to lift Malawians out of poverty and economic hardship that many are currently experiencing across the country.
She made these remarks in Mangochi District, where she launched a series of campaign promises aimed at transforming lives if her party wins.
Among her key pledges is the revitalisation of the mining sector, which she believes will play a crucial role in improving national revenue and uplifting citizens’ livelihoods.
She condemned the current illegal mining activities in districts like Mangochi and Machinga, where foreign nationals are reportedly smuggling gold.
Banda emphasised that this must come to an end, and that her administration would take full control of mining operations to ensure that Malawians themselves benefit from the country’s natural resources.
To empower rural women and the youth, she disclosed plans to roll out programmes targeting these groups with practical economic support.
One such initiative is the provision of loans to women to help them start and sustain small businesses in their communities.
She also revealed that the youth would benefit from the distribution of motorcycles to help them earn a living through kabaza (motorbike taxi) operations.
Banda explained that her party has already partnered with international companies to establish motorcycle assembly operations in Malawi.
Through this initiative, the motorcycles will be distributed to young people either for free or at highly subsidised prices to ensure accessibility.
She stressed that this move is designed to fight unemployment among the youth by providing them with tools to generate their own income rather than remaining idle.
Her campaign message is clear: her government would focus on economic justice, job creation, and ensuring that Malawians are the primary beneficiaries of the country’s wealth.
