My vision is to take Malawi to higher levels: Msaka, as Nankhumwa says economy in ICU

Malawi: Bright Msaka, DPP Vice President of the Eastern Region and a legislator from Machinga Likwenu, has announced his intention to run for DPP President at the DPP's fourth convention in 2023.

He made the announcement on the 12th of August 2022, during a press conference in Lilongwe.

Msaka stated that his vision is to take Malawi to a higher level where wealth will be created for all Malawians.

"When the DPP takes power in 2025, our priority will be to ensure that Malawians have money in their pockets. Will create an environment in which wealth is created at the grassroots level because that is where a country's real GDP is created by every man and woman, a young man and young woman. Making enough money to support themselves and their families, " he elaborated.

He went on to say that he will work hard to maintain good international relations so that the country can attract more foreign investment as a means of boosting the economy.

"We believe this country has enormous potential. There were times when this country grew faster than any other in the region. As a country, we occasionally lament the fact that we do not receive a lot of foreign direct investment. It is because investors will go to countries where people have money to spend on the goods and services that they offer,” he stated.

Meanwhile, another DPP presidential candidate, Kondwani Nankhumwa, who is the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and a legislator for Mulanje Central, stated that the country's economy is performing poorly in comparison to other countries in the region.

He said this during his closing speech of the 6th Meeting of the 49th Session of Parliament on the 12th of August 2022.

Nankhumwa responded to President Lazarus Chakwera's statement last week about the rising rate of the country's economy.

He stated that President Chakwera should not shout from the rooftops for people to come and see an improving economy because an improving economy is self-evident when citizens experience it on a daily basis.

"Unfortunately, this is not the case with our economy right now. Malawi's economy is currently in critical condition, and to say that Malawi is rising in the face of all these economic difficulties is an insult to Malawians. As a result, I condemn the president's entire statement "he stated.

He went on to say that the number of people who will go hungry next year has increased due to a reduction in Agricultural Inputs Program (AIP) beneficiaries.

He also stated that the government has no idea how to bring fertilizer into the country for AIP this year.

"As I speak, the government has no idea how to bring fertilizer into the country for AIP this year due to a lack of forex to pay for the product. Worse, any fertilizer that is imported will be prohibitively expensive for Malawians to afford, leading to another season of hunger,” he elaborated.

In his remarks, House Leader Richard Chimwendo Banda stated that Malawi is rising under President Chakwera's leadership and that the country has reached a new level.

"This country is on the rise. President Chakwera has elevated this country to new heights. And when the President says Malawi is rising, it means he has accepted the challenge that this country has faced "he stated.