By Vincent Gunde
An online television station, Bakili Muluzi TV (BMTV), has criticized the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) for what it describes as unfulfilled campaign promises.
BMTV compared past leaders’ promises to their achievements, citing that in 1964, the country’s first President, Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, promised to build more hospitals, but access to some public services required MCP party cards. It said in 1994, Dr. Bakili Muluzi introduced free primary education; in 2004, Professor Bingu wa Mutharika launched the free fertilizer program; and in 2014, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika introduced Community Technical Colleges—all of which, BMTV argues, were implemented.
The station alleged that during the 2020 campaign, the MCP under President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera promised to sell fertilizer at K4,000 but that the program faced challenges, including delayed distribution to farmers.
Looking ahead to the 2025 elections, BMTV highlighted new MCP promises, including K500,000 to be given to every newborn after 18 years, installation of flush toilets in primary schools, creation of 3 million jobs, and the transformation of the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) into a bank.
BMTV questioned which of the 2020 campaign promises have been successfully delivered, urging the government to provide clarity before introducing new commitments. It also criticized the administration’s frequent references to challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic, tropical cyclones, cholera outbreaks, and opposition party resistance as reasons for slow progress.
The station also referenced a recent statement by MCP running mate Engineer Vitumbiko Mumba, who said the party had created over 2 million jobs, particularly among Kabaza (bicycle and motorcycle taxi) operators. BMTV argued that many Kabaza operators started their businesses independently and called for greater accuracy in such claims.
BMTV praised the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for what it described as a “well-prepared” 2025 manifesto, attributing it to contributions from experienced technocrats, and contrasted this with the MCP’s manifesto, which it claimed lacked similar technical input.
