Celebratory mood engulfs Njamba as Chilima wraps it up

 

Malawi's major political quakes begin at Njamba Freedom Park in its Commercial city of Blantyre. The crowds that gather there to welcome a politician will tell him/here whether or not victory is assured. Its why political parties and their flag carriers will go to the extent of ferrying supporters for remote areas just to paint that picture.

It is here that, on June 20, 2009 UTM Party president Saulos Chilima and running mate to Malawi Congress Party President Lazarous Chakwera wrapped up Tonse Alliance's bid for a presidential mandate when Malawians vote of the June 23 polls.

It was a final campaign trip that started in Lilongwe with whistlestops along the way to Malawi's commercial city of Blantyre. In Blantyre Chilima paid a call on the people of Nancholi and wrapped up in Ndirande.

From the populous township he walked the 6.4km with the crowd all the way to Njamba where thousands more were waiting.

They had come from all over the city, some walked, took minibuses, other parked their cars. Some came with their husbands, wives, children, friends, others alone. They mingled around the park, some taking swigs from all sorts of alcoholic bottles as the Blacks and soldier Lucius Banda kept the crowd on their feet.

Chilima: Filimu yanu itha Lolemba

"Chilima waposa Papa [Chilima has attracted a bigger crowd than the Pope]," said one elderly man.

Malawi's Vice President arrived on foot, his black military boots covered in dust, the crowd erupted into cheers as he jumped onto the stage and did some push ups.

"We've heard your issues, we'll fix the issues of passports, driving licences and the others together. We'll build flats in the ghettos. Mutharika was just about laying foundation stones, we'll fulfill our promises.

A cross-section of the crowd at the rally. Photos by Chisomo Ngulube

"Last year [as UTM] we were saying one milllion jobs, this year we're saying more than that," said Chilima.

To the Democratic Progressive Party he said: "Filimu yanu itha Lolemba m'mdalayo azivaya! Tatopa Naye [Your time is up, It's time for the old man (President Peter Mutharika) to go]. We want every Malawian to be happy."

He also urged the DPP party to prepare for the fact that Lazarous Chakwera will be Malawi's sixth president.

He also urged Malawians to be part of the process of ensuring that their votes are safeguarded and not stolen.

Chilima was also hopeful that the voting process will not take long as the Electoral Commission will only be handling a Presidential Election.

"Monitors make sure vote counting starts at 6pm, by 12pm we should know the results," he pleaded.

Earlier, MCP's Moses Kunkuyu spelt out a number of failures by the DPP government that warrant not voting for  Mutharika.