Jumbe paired with Kubwalo: Says Malawi needs New Labour Party expertise

President of the New Labour Party (NLP), Friday Anderson  Jumbe, on Thursday presented nomination papers to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to run for presidency with former diplomat Joseph Kubwalo as his running mate.

Jumbe could not pick his vice-president Sam Mpasu as running mate because of conviction disqualification and instead choose secretary general Joseph Kubwalo.

The former Finance minister during Bakili Muluzi reign, said his pair with Kubwalo was the right ticket that Malawians should consider for the presidency because they have the expertise to help recover the economy and fight financial mismanagement.

He noted that Malawi “is a sad story” now in terms of the economic status as one of the poorest in the world.

“We all agree in our unison –  political parties, civil society organisations – that time now has come that we should take the derailed nation of Malawi back on its rail track,” he said in a speech  monitored live on Zodiak Broadcasting Service through online streaming.  Jumbe conceded that transforming Malawi will be a “tall order.”

“We  in the New Labour Party decided to come in front and offer Malawians a leadership for a reason,” he said.

“We need transformational leadership,” said Jumbe who noted that ‘transformational leadership’ has become a popular cliché amongst presidential candidates.

He said NPL will provide Malawi with “a leadership that can offer not only hope but change.”

Jumbe said some presidential pretenders were “full of fantasy and full of imagination.”

The NPL torch bearer said with his economics background, he was best placed to deal with the financial scam that has rocked Capital Hill and led to withdrawal of donor support.

“Time has come now that Malawians must seek the truth,” he said.

Jumbe said NLP has “the capacity, the knowledge to change things in this country.”

“Time has come that Malawians must make a perfect choice. Leaders should be scrutinised for ability and capability,” said Jumbe.

“We are extremely confident that if voted into power Malawi can see signs of transformation within one year.  This is no time for leadership experiment,” said Jumbe.

MEC chairperson Maxon Mbendera, who is a Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal judge, hailed Jumbe and Kubwalo for “showing us courage and fortitude” to come forward to run for the presidency.

“We in the commission salute you and congratulate you,” said Mbendera.

Jumbe’s submission of the presidential nomination papers came after NASAF president James Nyondo and Dr John Chisi of United Party (UP)   who had their supporters chanting at Comesa Hall.

Justice Mbendera reminded the candidates that it remains a clear fact that in an election it is only one person who emerges a winner, and that sometimes in a race it gets intense and muddy, but the candidates should confine themselves to a civilized campaign.

“Malawians are tired of mud-slinging and foul-mouthed electioneering. For a change, they want this election to be issue-based,” the Chairperson has observed, urging all to champion the cause for a clean campaign.

The Commission is further asking for an adherence to the Code of Conduct for Candidates which was developed in consultation with all political parties and electoral stakeholders.

MEC has renewed its commitment to a free, fair and credible election to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.

The official campaign for the May 20 election starts on March 21.

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