After conducting successful whistle-stops in the northern region, President Lazarus Chakwera’s running mate in the forthcoming General elections Vitumbiko Mumba is set to hold another set of whistle-stop rallies in the southern region.
Mumba’s first set of whistle-stop rallies will be conducted on Tuesday 2nd September, 2025 at Zalewa at around 9 o’clock in the morning before conducting another rally at Mwanza Boma at 10:30 am.
In the afternoon, Mumba who is also Minister of Trade and Industry, will be at Thambani Trading Centre at 1 o’clock.
Mumba will then travel to Chikwawa where he is expected to conduct a rally at Chapananga trading centre before concluding Tuesday’s rallies at Dyeratu at around 4 o’clock in the evening.
On the Tour, Mumba will be accompanied by MCP Second Deputy President Abida Mia and some top MCP officials in the Southern region including Peter Simbi, Babu Khamisa and Bernadetta Mlaka Maliro.
United Democratic Front (UDF) president Atupele Muluzi on Sunday afternoon launched his party’s manifesto titled ‘Innovate Malawi’ at Nyambadwe Primary School Ground in Blantyre.
Speaking to journalists after the launch,Muluzi described the manifesto as an ‘economic reset’ aimed at stabilizing and transforming Malawi’s economy through innovation, technology, and sustainable investment.
He said the UDF government would prioritize economic stabilization under a ‘business-first’ approach before moving towards large-scale innovation.
Muluzi
Muluzi pledged to introduce advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital finance, cryptocurrencies, and stablecoins, alongside the creation of a sovereign wealth fund to unlock new financing opportunities for the country.
“This is not just a promise,it is already supported and ready to be implemented for the future of this country.
“We are sitting on some of the largest critical mineral reserves in the world, which are the new oil. We are going to establish a sovereign wealth fund, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has already signed an agreement to support us in building credibility for this fund. Any serious country today has a sovereign wealth fund, and to be supported by the UAE will be a game changer,” he said.
Muluzi emphasized that restoring confidence in Malawi’s governance and economy would be central to attracting investment,saying that the country had lost nearly half of its donor support due to corruption.
“The world is looking for confidence. Money follows accountability and trust.Corruption is bad, but this is not about a witch hunt. We are saying those who have stolen should return the money, but most importantly, we must stop corruption moving forward,” he said.
Commenting on the upcoming September 16 general elections,Muluzi expressed confidence in the UDF’s chances at the ballot paper.
“An election is an election.Anything can happen. The people of Malawi will speak through the ballot paper, and I believe they will vote for the UDF,” he said.
Turning to agriculture, the UDF leader described the sector as central to Malawi’s economic transformation.
He promised to move farmers from subsistence farming to large-scale commercial agriculture, particularly in high-value export crops such as macadamia.
“We will provide farmers with inputs such as fertilizer and seedlings to lift them out of poverty. At the same time, we will make fertilizer affordable by strengthening household incomes. The revenue generated from new investments will be directed towards agriculture, energy, mining, and tourism sectors that will drive job creation and economic transformation,” he said.
Muluzi further stressed that the government must widen its revenue base beyond the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), which is currently struggling to meet targets as businesses face financial hardships.
“You cannot rely only on tax collection when companies are squeezed. We must fix the economy first, bring in new revenue streams, and reinvest in agriculture, energy, mining, and tourism to create jobs and drive economic transformation,” he said.
On his part, Muluzi running mate Dr. Rex Kalolo also expressed confidence that UDF is going to win the upcoming September 16 general elections saying the party is still strong in all regions of the country.
Kalolo said Malawi needs Muluzi as its next leader, citing his clean track record in politics.
He said the UDF leader has never been involved in corruption scandals nor faced arrests linked to theft.
The UDF running mate further assured that if Muluzi is elected, key government initiatives such as the Masaf social support program and the Starter Pack program will be revived for the benefit of Malawians.
The long awaited Mumba Revolving Fund (MUREF) has officially been launched in Mzimba Central Constituency in Mzimba district, with the aim of providing easy access to loans for people in the area.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in Euthini, founder of MUREF who is also contesting as member of parliament for the area, Vitumbiko Mumba said the fund will benefit people in the constituency regardless of their political affiliations.
The 500 million Kwacha initiative is expected to provide an ongoing financial support and empower people especially women and youth aged between 18 to 60 to have access to finances by starting or expanding their enterprises and small-scale farming activities.
Mumba
After the unveiling ceremony, Mumba who is also President Lazarus Chakwera’s running mate in the forthcoming General elections, held a Mega rally at Euthini Community Secondary School in the district.
United Transformation Movement (UTM) president,Dalitso Kabambe, has reaffirmed his party’s commitment to fighting corruption, nepotism, and cronyism, stressing that integrity and accountability will remain at the heart of UTM’s political agenda.
In an interview with 247 Malawi News, Kabambe said UTM remains unwavering in upholding values that protect Malawians from practices that have undermined the country’s progress for decades.
“As UTM, we remain steadfast in our commitment to zero tolerance for nepotism, cronyism, and corruption.
“These are the evils that have for far too long denied our people the dignity and prosperity they deserve,” he said.
The UTM leader emphasized that UTM’s partnerships and political decisions will always be guided by principle rather than convenience.
“We will only work with those whose values align with ours. Where there is no alignment on these ideals, we shall not compromise. For us, integrity will always come before political expediency,” he said.
Kabambe also raised concern over the growing politicization of tribal cultural associations, warning against political parties hijacking such institutions for partisan purposes.
“We believe that our tribal cultural associations must remain sacred spaces for unity, heritage, and identity. They belong to all Malawians, regardless of political affiliation. We reject the dangerous trend where some political parties have hijacked cultural associations for political mileage. Let it be clear:tribal cultural associations belong to all Malawians, not to political parties,” he said.
The former Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM ) Governor reiterated that UTM’s vision is to create a fair and united Malawi.
“Our commitment is to a Malawi where fairness, unity, and integrity reign.Our vision is simple yet powerful: One Vision, One Malawi,” said Kabambe.
He further assured Malawians that UTM is determined to deliver a new Malawi built on accountability, fairness, and unity of purpose.
“Together, we must always put Malawi first,” concluded Kabambe.
The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) has assured the public of steady fuel availability in the country, saying 160 million litres of fuel have already been procured for September and October.
Speaking in Lilongwe at a joint press briefing with the National Oil Company of Malawi Limited (NOCMA) on Saturday, MERA Chief Executive Officer(CEO ) Henry Kachaje said the authority is relying on both Government-to-Government (G2G) arrangements and Open Tender processes to guarantee sufficient fuel supplies.
Henry Kachaje
Kachaje revealed that a vessel carrying nearly 48 million litres of petrol and diesel is already en route to Malawi.
He said in addition, 56 million litres of petrol and 57 million litres of diesel have been secured to meet national demand.
MERA CEO further urged the public to desist from practices that threaten fuel security, stressing that the volumes procured in 2025 are already 27 percent higher than the total supplies secured in 2024.
Malawi had been experiencing fuel scarcity in the past few days resulting in long lines in fuel pumps.
