By Kondanani Chilimunthaka

His Excellence, the State President, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has commended all the stakeholders in the 2020 Fresh Presidential Election for ensuring that it was conducted peacefully and in credible manner, saying that without them the election would not have been peaceful.

President Chakwera was speaking while responding to the question posed to him by the Parliamentarian for Zomba Lisanjala who wanted to know What is the plan for the government to ensure that 2025 General Elections will not be marred with violence as has been the case in some parts of the country in previous elections? Chakwera in his response assured the parliamentarian and all Malawians that his administration is so committed to extend the peace and success of the 2020 Fresh Presidential Election to future elections by empowering the stakeholder institutions to deliver on their respective mandates.

Further, president Chakwera told the August House that knowing how the incidences of violence were occasioned during some by-elections elections, his administration will be taking a comprehensive approach that ensures peaceful elections.

Responding to Nkhotakota North-East on When should Malawians expect the commencement of duty-free week and reduction of passport fees which was promised to be at K14,000 each passport?,
President Chakwera hinted that his administration is consulting on how it can best implement some unique promises made by MCP and UTM in 2019 before the two came into an alliance towards the 2020 Fresh Presidential Election.

President Chakwera added that few common promises were put on the priority list among the priorities to make sure Malawians start to see the desirable change as soon as possible after elections on June 23,2020, like the Fertlizer Subsidy program known as AIP.

Among others, MCP promised Universal Fertilizer Subsidy Program, Performance Contracts to all ministers, increasing the minimum wage to K50,000, raising the tax-free threshold of Pay As You Earn tax from the then K35,000 to the current K100,000 and assurance that the president will be appearing before Parliament to enswer the questions while on the other hand UTM promised Universal Fertilizer Subsidy Program, establishing a duty-free week, reducing cost of passports and removing electricity connection fees before the two parties came into an alectoral partnership towards Fresh Presidential polls alongside other alliance parties.

Today’s appearance before Parliament to answer questions was the third since Chakwera won election on June 23,2020.

By Kondanani Chilimunthaka

People of Karonga North West Constituency have been urged to rally behind Malawi Congress Party and vote for its candidate Daniel Chitonya in the forthcoming by-elections if the area is to have meaningful developments.

The remarks were made on Saturday afternoon when several party officials conducted party campaign rallies ahead of March 30, 2021 Parliamentary by-election in Karonga North West Constituency.

Speaking at Chinsebe and Baka, National Youth Director in the Malawi Congress Party who is also Minister of Homeland Security and a Member of Parliament for Dowa East, Honorable Richard Chimwendo Banda said time has come for the people of Karonga North West to enjoy developments and be beneficiaries of government policies and projects, saying for the past 26 years the constituency has suffered a lot due to politics of regionalism, a thing he described as a denial for their right to development as Malawians.

Chimwendo while bemoaning the behaviour of other politicians who remove or destroy structures once they lose elections, described Daniel Chitonya as a mature and dedicated candidate who will serve his constituents well in and outside Parliament, for he has their welfare at heart. On dilapidated roads, unfinished school blocks and health facilities, Chimwendo Banda assured the constituents that the Chakwera led government will soon help them so that they too become beneficiaries of government policies and developments.

Chimwendo then thanked Abraham Mwakhwawa who contested on primaries for democratically accepting defeat and pledging his total support for Daniel Chitonya, saying this has shown how democracy and unity is growing within Malawi Congress Party.

Karonga North West Constituency fell vacant following the death of Honorable James Bond Kamwambi who succumbed to Covid-19 to become the second Member of Parliament from Karonga to succumb to the pandemic.

Over 49,000 registered voters are expected to cast their vote in the 35 centers of Karonga North West constituency which is among six constituencies and one ward where MEC is scheduled to conduct by-elections on March 30 this year.