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(NYASATIMES) Tembo launches pro-poor manifetso

Tembo launches pro-poor manifetso
Nyasa Times 26 April, 2009 05:03:00

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and United Democratic Front (UDF) joint presidential candidate for May 19 elections, John Tembo on Sunday launched a pro-poor manifesto at a historical rally in the capital Lilongwe.

At a rally held at Masintha grounds attend edby some twenty thousand cheering supporters of MCP and UDF, Tembo who was joined by former president BakilI Muluzi, said his government from May will introduce Universal Fertilizer Subsidy programme as opposed to the failed President Bingu wa Mutharika’s coupon system.

The prospective Malawi President Tembo said the new government in May will abolish the coupon system which he said was as a campaign tool as the coupons were only given to members of Mutharika’s party.

Tembo who has wealth of experience in government having served in late Ngwazi Dr Hasting Kamuzu Banda administration in different top portfolios assured that he will bring back Kamuzu’s agricultural success story by re-introduction of farmers clubs.

He however highlighted much on food security pointing out that the right to be free from hunger is a fundamental human right.

“Our government will adopt policies that will make sure that inputs are both affordable and equitably accessible so that productivity is increased,” said Tembo to a record crowd.

He promised to upscale social and economic infrastructure and extend quality government services, especially health and education, to rural areas.

Tembo also said other areas to be prioritised by his MCP-UDF government will include job creation and high service delivery.

He said the manifesto pledged to ensure that availability, accessibility and reliability of abundant food supplies are guaranteed for people at the national and household level.

“Measures will be undertaken to ensure successful subsistence farming, promotion of food crop production be estate and maintaining food reserve,” pledges the presidential hopeful.

He said his government will pursue an export and industrialization policy aiming at reversing the current state of Malawi being a net importer into a net exporter.

Tembo also promised to remove duty on imports of raw materials and other inputs not available in Malawi.

He said as Head of State, development will be equitably distributed to all Malawians regardless of political affiliation.

Labels: ELECTIONS, JOHN TEMBO, MCP

posted by MrK @ 9:26 PM