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By Taonga Sabola & Brenda Kayo: Thousands of jubilant Malawians lined the M1 Road in Lilongwe Tuesday, when their cheers rolled like thunder as President Peter Mutharika made a triumphant entry into the capital, his first since being elected Malawi’s 7th President on September 16. The air was thick with excitement, the streets transformed into rivers of blue, the colour of his governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Drums pounded and songs of praise filled the air as people celebrated the return of a leader they believe holds the answers to the challenges weighing heavily on the nation. From Bunda Turn-Off through Wakawaka and all the way to Biwi Triangle, the spectacle stretched for kilometres. Families, traders, students and office workers abandoned their daily routines to join the sea of humanity that waited patiently for more than three hours to have a glimpse of the 85-year-old leader’s convoy as it wound its way from Mangochi to Lilongwe. Business came to a complete standstill; market stalls were deserted and traffic melted into the crowd. When the first wail of police sirens broke the air, the multitudes erupted into song and dance, waving flags and branches high above their heads as if welcoming an all-conquering figure. The emotions were unmistakable. Faces shone with tears of joy and exhaustion; songs of expectation rose above the crowd as people sang about a new beginning they are envisioning. These are Malawians who have endured some of the hardest economic years in recent memory, a people bruised by the relentless rise in the cost of living. In today’s Malawi, a family of six living in the city needs nearly K910,000 per month to survive in an economy where only 10 percent of adults have salaried jobs, and the average income hovers between K150,000 and K200,000. Yet, for a few hours yesterday, hardship seemed to dissolve into celebration, replaced by a shared belief that change had come. Though Mutharika had initially been expected to address the crowd at Biwi Triangle, his convoy continued onwards, prompting the elated masses to escort him on foot to Bwalo la Njobvu. There, before thousands gathered under the setting sun, he finally took to the podium. His voice, steady and familiar, carried easily through the loudspeakers as he thanked the people of the Central Region for their unwavering support, over 700,000 votes of the 3.5 million that secured his victory. “The DPP is back,” he declared confidently to rapturous applause, “and it will stay in power for the next 25 years.” His words were met with cheers and chants of loyalty that rippled through the crowd. Turning to policy, the President pledged that his government was committed to ending hunger, assuring citizens that all 4.2 million Malawians affected by food shortages across the 28 districts would soon receive relief maize. He revealed that 200,000 metric tonnes of maize, purchased from Zambia, were expected to arrive within two weeks, a promise that drew another wave of applause from the hopeful supporters. In a lighter moment that drew laughter from the crowd, Mutharika quipped that he could not speak for long because he was “still hunting for accommodation” ,a humorous reference to the chaos at Kamuzu Palace following the exit of the previous administration. Speaking earlier, Senior Chief Tsabango and DPP Regional Governor for the Centre David Kambalame welcomed Mutharika to the city. Senior Chief Tsabango assured Mutharika that chiefs in Lilongwe would work closely with the current government, particularly in addressing the pressing issue of hunger. Tsabango said Malawians voted for DPP to bring relief to the country. Mutharika is expected to handle a number of State engagements, including the opening of the Mid- Year Budget Review in Parliament this coming Friday.
