VP Usi pledges support to the needy
Vice President, Dr. Michael Usi has said he deliberately chose not to pay the MK20 million nomination fee for presidential aspirants during the just-ended United Transformation Movement (UTM) convention on account that the money was enough to bail out some vulnerable families from poverty.
He was speaking on Thursday at Lunzu Market in Blantyre when he made a brief stop to interact with a mammoth crowd that gathered to warmly welcome him from Lilongwe.
Usi said he has already made plans to spend the money prudently, which includes supporting the elderly and other vulnerable groups with necessities.
“Very soon, I will buy fertilizers to support the elderly, hire the youths to assist the elderly in farms and also support schools in rural areas with solar,” said Usi.
Usi observed that poverty is real and that the government is doing everything possible to provide loans through the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) to people to engage in income-generating activities.
However, Usi advised Lunzu Market Committee to ensure that those who have already benefited from the NEEF loans pave way for others.
“Next week, a team from NEEF will come to register you for the loans. It is my plea that you allow other deserving business people access the loans as well,” he said.
He also encouraged the gathering to register in large numbers in the ongoing second phase of voter registration exercise in Blantyre and other districts.
Your voice matters and your vote can make a difference. Voting gives you the power to influence key decisions that shape our community, our country and our future. If you haven’t yet registered, now is the perfect time,” he advised.
Speaking earlier, Chairperson for Lunzu Market, Henderson Ligomeka expressed gratitude to the government for supporting vendors with NEEF loans to boost their capital base.
Ligomeka also hailed President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera for implementing various development projects such as the construction of tarmac roads and police houses.
After conducting a tour of Lunzu Market, the Vice President also stopped at Kameza roundabout to interact with people.
