Malawi rights groups launch “People’s Manifesto”

Malawi’s civil society groups have launched what they call a “People’s Manifesto” to articulate their social, economic and political programmes whose implementation would deliver the country’s national vision of social justice, economic productivity, reduced poverty and transparent and accountable governance.

The Malawi Economic Justice Network (MEJN) Executive Director, Andrew Kumbatira, told APA on Monday in Lilongwe that although people of Malawi have made significant progress in social, economic and political development since independence in 1964, there are many challenges which continue to limit further progress of the developments and in some cases have the effect of reversing past gains.

“If the gains of the past are to be consolidated and the people of this country are to achieve economic growth and reduce poverty and inequalities that currently characterise the lives of the majority, any government in power and any political party aspiring to govern must undertake a number of urgent interventions,” he said.

He said the People’s Manifesto articulates the minimum interventions that civil society has identified as requiring the most immediate policy attention and action by the government.

It is the sincere expectation of civil society, therefore, he said, that all political parties that are committed to people-driven development and democratic governance will incorporate the prescriptions of the People’s Manifesto into their own manifestos.

Kumbatira also said civil society will use the People’s Manifesto as a set of benchmarks against which the performance of any sitting government and promises of any political party will be evaluated.