Aspiring presidential candidate, Milward Tobias, has expressed determination to lay a foundation for the construction of an underwater road connecting Nkhata Bay and Likoma Island to facilitate road transport.
Tobias added that, if given the mantle on September 16, 2025, his administration will also lay a foundation for the establishment of an Export and Import Bank of Malawi to provide Line of Credit to borrower countries.
The presidential hopeful made the sentiments in his statement to celebrate the birth of the New Year.
“With 257 days to voting, this year offers us a rare opportunity to decide the type of Malawi we want. As I have said before, this year’s election will be between status quo versus change. Change in election is not about different face or just new face in politics. Change means different type of politics. Different approach to campaigning. Different message that is based on honesty and practicality of delivering the promises within five years. I represent this new brand of politics,” thus he opens his statement.
Tobias thanked Malawians for giving him the platform and courage, stressing that his campaign for the presidency made significant progress in 2024.
He said this is why his campaign team extended reach and delivered a manifesto early enough to enable them familiarize themselves with it and have a basis on which they can talk to others about his candidacy and why he deserves their vote.
According to Tobias, he has joined politics to dismantle the mafia empire to lay a foundation for politics that is grounded on integrity, competence and service to humanity.
“I have come so we can address once and for all, the basic needs that have preoccupied our development planning for six decades spanning six presidents. This we are doing so that the next leaders will focus on high-transformative development projects. I am not calculating in terms of this election or in terms of next elections. I am calculating in terms of this generation and the next generations. This country must develop and we will develop it.
“One year from now, our economy will be stable and conducive. We will lower and stabilize interest rate and inflation rate, strengthen and stabilize exchange rate. Two years from now, this country will be permanently food secure, having put in place robust food systems. Everyone will have access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation. No child will withdraw from school on account of lack of school fees,” he assured.
“Five years from now, no child will learn under a tree because of the shortage of classrooms. Disease burden will be reduced and health facilities will be well equipped to treat patients adequately and ensure their welfare is taken care of while in hospital. Diseases that are currently referred outside will be treated in Malawi. Home ownership will improve and the proportion of permanent houses in rural areas will increase. We will be more industrialized with more Malawian owned factories, increased job opportunities, flourishing businesses and graduating Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
“Ten years from now, we will be economically independent. We will be operating a budget surplus and our foreign exchange reserves will be in excess of what we need to cover imports hence able to expand public infrastructure and service delivery in ways that we have not imagined before.
“Twenty years from now, I envision a road connecting Nkhata Bay and Likoma Island so we can travel by car under water. I envision an Export and Import Bank of Malawi to provide Line of Credit to borrower countries, first in SADC and next in the whole Africa continent. The companies we will facilitate establishment from the first five years will easily penetrate the regional and continental markets through the EXIM Bank. That is the model China and India are using. It is elementary economics of an effective demand model,” reads his statement.
Meanwhile, Tobias has announced plans to visit all districts in order to interact with and get inputs from eligible voters.
“We will continue sharing our manifesto promises and in a good time, you will be informed of the running mate. Someone who will be our Vice President following the vote you will give us,” concluded the statement.