Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Richard Chimwendo Banda says President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera considers road infrastructure as the driving force of the economy hence he has put his foot on the accelerator to speed up the completion of all projects across the country in time.
Chimwendo who is also National Youth Director of Malawi Congress Party ( MCP) said this yesterday at a rally he and others addressed at Mponela Community ground in Dowa District.
He said MCP is the only party that built and constructed durable roads and buildings of which some are still being used today after more than 40 years since they were constructed.
He said one of the one reasons why Malawians will vote for MCP and Chakwera in 2025 is because “MCP development footprints can not be erased in people’s hearts”.
“We consider infrastructure development as the engine of our economy. We have now switched gears because we want to increase the pace in completing all road projects across the country without comprising quality which is the center piece of Chakwera’s administration,” said Chimwendo Banda who is also leader of government business in Parliament.
In his remarks, Banda said M1 road is now going rehabilitation patches, the six lane road in Lilongwe City is on track, Ntchisi- Chirimo road is almost done, Nsanje- Marka, various roads are being constructed in all major cities, road, Mzuzu City Assembly will have new top of the class offices that will add to the beauty to the city and that bridges are being constructed across the country just to mention a few.
He added that for women to actively participate in the economic activities that can help to stimulate growth of the country, government realizes that movement of people and goods both in local setting and towns depends on infrastructure as key taking into consideration that our nation is an agricultural based economy which means all sectors of the economy from agriculture, education, health and energy, mining among others can not perform well without functions of the “nervous system” which is the road network .
On women empowerment and respect, Chimwendo Banda said
the empowerment of women is critical in government desire to achieve inclusive growth, job creation and economic opportunities for all hence Chakwera has put a deliberate mantra to invest in women’s innovative ideas by among others including more women cabinet, being heads of departments, ambassadors and high commissioners, chairpersons of various boards and that it is only in his administration that the country has witnessed more women taking up strategic positions in government compared to past governments.
On this note, he encouraged more girls to work hard in school because that is the foundation of their future.
He further said more women are accessing loans from NEEF and other money lending institutions as a mechanism of empowering their families and personal security.
On politics, Chimwendo who is well known as bulldozer in political spaces, said those who are waiting to see MCP losing government in 2025 are wasting their time because Chakwera ‘sakuchoka pa mpando’.
“I would like to extend my invitation to all opposition supporters to join the MCP train now, or choose to stay in opposition for over 40 like children of Israeli in wilderness because Chakwera is not give government to anyone in 2025,” said Chimwendo Banda speaking to reporters.
MCP, AFORD and UDF continue to criss cross the country with development rallies while DPP and UTM are still in ‘sleeping’ in their basements.
