By Mabvuto Kalawa, Malawi Freedom Network Correspondent
The people of Sanjiko, Chipwa, and Thiwi villages in T/A Chadza have been promised massive development if they vote for MCP candidates in the upcoming general elections.
This call was made by the shadow MCP councillor for Sanjiko Ward in Lilongwe Mpenu Constituency during a campaign meeting held yesterday at Thiwi.
He told the gathering that real development will come from MCP candidates because the party is ready to transform the area into a peri-urban trading centre.
However, he stressed that for this to happen, voters must elect Dr. Lazarus Chakwera as president, Hon. Eisenohoer Mkaka as member of parliament, and himself as councillor.
Using a metaphor, he compared voting for the MCP to choosing a three-piece suit, consisting of a jacket, waistcoat, and trousers, saying that voting for the “MCP suit” is a vote for development.
He assured the people that the area will begin transforming immediately once he is elected as councillor.
Hon. Bruno Daka reminded the gathering that the area has not developed in the past due to greedy individuals who prioritized personal interests over community progress.
He praised Hon. Mkaka as a development-conscious leader and cited the example of Mazengera Ward, which has benefited from Mkaka’s initiatives, promising similar improvements for Sanjiko Ward.
He acknowledged the challenges facing the community, including lack of safe water, poorly maintained roads, and the absence of a local health centre, forcing residents to travel to Nathenje for medical services.
He assured voters that these problems will be addressed by September 16, 2025.
Hon. Daka emphasized that in the past, residents were excluded from development planning, and he pledged to work closely with them, stressing the need for coordination.
He warned the community not to be misled by so-called independent candidates who, he claimed, are not aligned with Chakwera’s development agenda.
Senior Group Village Headman Chipwa addressed the gathering, urging people to vote for the MCP candidates, noting that Chakwera and his team deliver on their promises.
He cited examples such as the increase in chiefs’ honoraria, which had not been implemented in the past.
Commenting on the issues, Senior Group Village Headman of Thiwi highlighted persistent problems, including distant primary schools, lack of health centres, and unfulfilled promises of boreholes by previous councillors.
He requested that if Hon. Daka is elected, he must prioritize these community needs, expressing confidence that Hon. Mkaka and Chakwera will deliver.
A community member told this reporter that he is happy because Hon. Daka has visited the area since the advent of multiparty politics, a gesture no previous councillor has made.
He also expressed confidence in Hon. Mkaka’s record, citing Gondwa Village in Mazengera Ward, where residents now have access to piped water thanks to Mkaka’s interventions.
A woman who attended the meeting highlighted the area’s ongoing challenges, including hunger, water shortages, poor infrastructure, and rivers that are impassable during the rainy season, preventing access to the Nathenje health centre.
She pledged to vote for the “MCP suit” promoted by Hon. Daka.
Apart from Senior Chief Chipwa, forty other chiefs also attended the meeting.
The gathering formed part of the MCP’s broader campaign strategy of engaging grassroot communities to hear their voices and priorities.
