DRAFT POLITICAL MANIFESTO
‘No country has ever been able to maintain, over a considerable period of time, any form of democratic government without the aid of political parties. And it is safe to prophesy that no country ever will.’ [W.B. MUNRO].
‘An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.’ [MAHATMA GANDHI]
THE MALAWI
Slogan: MSDP-----Unity [2]
Unity---------is power [2]
Motto: UNITY FOR SOCIAL, AGRARIAN, DEMOCRATIC AND ECONOMIC EMANCIPATION OF ALL MALAWIANS.
Emblem: THE LION and THE ELEPHANT
Color: LIGHT GREEN and ORANGE
GENERAL TENETS OF THE PARTY
The party will be ‘always present- everywhere present- and vocally present’. The party of choice for the people and for the nation. The right choice of a party for all nationals of Malawi
The party will be rigidly socialistic and democratic in character a mixed-economy, a more evolved socialism that will have a positive influence on the evolution of democracy not only in Malawi but in Africa as a whole.
The party will strive to achieve political, social and economic emancipation of all people without favour or prejudice.
It will be a party of individual membership claiming to represent all classes and denying that economic relationships alone shape society.
Individuals from all walks of life will be united together by common interest to form the MSDP to promote national goals including unity and eliminate political, religious, racial and ethnic intolerance.
Every Malawian national will enjoy security and possess liberty and the rule of law will be upheld at all cost with no scrupulous abuse of power to the detriment of the citizenry.
The party will not only entertain support from those of moderate income, neither will it from only the rich but also the poor and underprivileged making it a party not only affiliated towards grassroots persons but also the middle-class and upper-class citizenry combined into a formidable special interest base.
A party of the people, for the people- the people’s choice representing all Malawian nationals and all points of view in the country.
It will stand for the upholding of all civil liberties as demanded by the exigencies of modern times and espouse the cause for religious freedoms and freedom of worship in accordance to one’s conscience as protected by our sovereign constitution.
The party will champion the cause of political liberty, the right of every citizen to an equal share of the suffrage and all other civil liberties.
The party will strive to achieve political, social and economic emancipation of all people, more particularly of those who directly depend upon their labour; manual, mental, agrarian or otherwise.
The party’s constitution will make it clear that ‘workers by brain’ or the elite will be no less welcome than ‘workers by hand’ or the agrarian and other manual workers.
The party will be truly national and not pretend to be so- Northern, Central, Southern members will be equally entertained- Christians Muslims and traditional religions alike –all religious, cultural and traditional entities will be entertained without segregation or prejudice based on color, creed, race, religion, social status or otherwise.
The party will foster a mixed economic system in which private as well as public forms of property will co-exist.
One may say it is not entirely socialistic but it will no longer be hinged on the domination of the state by monopoly capital as is typical of western capitalistic economies.
The paramount question will be to preserve to the greatest possible extent the productive forces and social services already created, recognizing the role which private enterprise has in a modern democratic dispensation.
The communiqué adopting commitment to a pluralistic-libertarian ideal implying support for the plurality of political parties, the right to existence and activity of the opposition parties, democratic alteration between the majority and minority; liberty of thought and expression, freedom of press and other civil liberties.
The party will not only desire a mixed economic system; it will espouse the maintenance and protection of civil liberties so that people enjoy the blessings of life in a free and plural society.
It will cherish the democratization of economic, social and political life- in essence democratization carried to its logical conclusion of SOCIALISM.
The socialism for which we strive for as a party will be profoundly democratic- not only because by eliminating exploitation we will create for the working people the essential conditions for their freedoms but also because we will guarantee, develop and extend all the liberties which our people have won by suffrage.
Such is the socialism inseparable from liberty which we desire for our country and which we believe we will build.
Not by revolution or arms but by parliamentary means as well as keeping the confidence of the people through universal suffrage.
Not fostering political singularism as was espoused in communism but multiformity as is typical of all modern democratic dispensations.
MSDP takes it for granted that there will be several parties, even of the socialist, democrat, progressive, labour, congress or otherwise and all should have the freedom to take part in the struggle for power for the sake of realizing the goal of achieving social and economic justice.
The party will fight to restore, defend and develop democracy within a socialistic society which will have at its foundation the value of individual and collective liberties and their guarantee; the principles of the secular, non-ideological nature of the state and its democratic organization; the plurality of political parties and the possibility of alteration, autonomy of trade unions, religious freedoms, freedom of expression, culture, art and the sciences.
No policies will be entertained by the party that will in any way jeopardize not to mention compromise on nationalism and solidarity for the people of Malawi
All persons within the nation regardless of race, creed, ethnicity or social origin, property, birth, gender, language, region of origin, religion, disability, health-status, and social-status, nationality or otherwise will be treated with utmost equality and dignity in accordance with the universal principles of natural justice.
Equality of opportunity, access to education, social and economic amenities and an equitable share of the developmental cake and resources for all regions nationwide will be fostered regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity or otherwise.
No retrogressive factional or sectarian philosophies based on tribal grounds or ethnicity, region of origin or cultural traditions will be inculcated by the party with experience having taught us that such breeds a recipe for dissension.
No utilization of cheap gimmicking, cynicism or propaganda through the media of mass communication or otherwise shall be used by the party to denigrate or violate the dignity and privacy of other persons on the grounds of differences of political opinion in the event that it wins an election.
The party will strive for the Malawian spirit rooted on Unity, Discipline and Tolerance and the restoration of the friendly warm heart we are renowned for as Malawians worldwide.
A pro-African but nevertheless globally oriented foreign policy will be fostered.
The party shall affiliate itself with the Democrats in America , the Social democrats in Germany as well as the Labour party in the United Kingdom
In terms of code of conduct discipline will be the by-word for all persons willing to be affiliated with the party.
The democratic doctrine of ‘Separation of Powers’ will be strictly adhered to without any compromises or abuse.
Fundamental characteristics to be upheld by the party
High centralization
The party will have a strong organizational framework both at the national and local level.
Power will rest within the central organ of the party [National Governing Council].
A direct chain of connectivity between the central organ at headquarters and local units will be upheld.
Firm and vigilant control of the party over its members in Parliament will be the by-word.
Continuity of operation
The party will endeavor to be continually in operation even if it entails having lost in any election.
The party will not go to slumber neither will it doze between elections.
Though the effort in-between elections may not be as intense as during the period directly prior to elections the campaigns for the party are going to be incessant---hence always present, everywhere present and vocally present.
Moderation and compromise
A tradition of moderation and compromise shall always be pursued by the party so as to instill peaceful co-existence and tolerance among Malawians.
Especially so if the party loses in an election- it will endeavor to uphold constructive criticism of the ruling entity---Government.
The party will not obstruct the working of the RULING PARTY [GOVERNMENT] in any way possible in the event of having lost an election AND it will expect the same from other parties in the event that it wins an election.
The party will not make extravagant and wild promises to turn public opinion against any incumbent GOVERNMENT and it will also expect the same from other parties.
In short the party will uphold a tradition of moderation and compromise at all cost.
PARTY ORGANIZATION
To direct the work of the National Governing Council and look after all the matters during the Presidential campaigns, a Chairperson will by convention be selected.
He need not RIGIDLY be one of the committee members.
The Chairperson may be the personal choice of the party’s candidate for the Presidency but may also not be.
He will be of great significance such that he may determine the party’s failure or success at a Presidential election.
He will decide how and where the campaign funds shall be spent and plan the election strategy, selecting the weak spots in the fortifications of his adversary and bolstering up the weak places in his own.
His job calls for a super-politician who will apply the constructs of political-psychology, philosophy, and all the other faculties at his disposal such that if the party wins the Presidency he gets an influential voice in the distribution of patronage and he himself also is given an important office even a post in the cabinet.
The National Governing Council will maintain a number of other sub-Committees or auxiliary Committees among which will be the following:
· Executive Committee
· Finance Committee
· Publicity Committee
· Speaker’s Committee
All these Committees will function under the direct supervision of the Chairman.
The Secretary General and the Treasurer as well as the Publicity Secretary are also other important party officers at the National Level.
The Secretary General will hold charge of the party’s national headquarters and supervise vast amounts of correspondence besides handling other varied campaign activities.
The post of the Treasurer is also extremely important.
Upon him rests the chief responsibility for raising the millions which are to be rendered necessary for the running of the election campaign.
The Publicity Secretary holds the responsibility of disseminating party information, responding to any questions raised against the party and will work directly in liaison with the Chairperson.
Members of Parliament
The members of Parliament belonging to MSDP constitute the Parliamentary MSDP.
They will elect their leader in Parliament who will work in liaison with the party’s National Governing Council [NGC].
The Parliamentary MSDP consults the NGC and will be guided generally by the policies formulated by NGC and the manifesto of the party.
DRAFTED BY MARISEN MWALE [FOUNDER OF THE PARTY]
TO ALL WELLWISHERS:
Input: marisen.mwale@yahoo.co.uk
Cell: [+265] 0 999 245 017
[+265] 0 888 413 329
Contributions- First merchant- Mzuzu- 5172815204-savings
Standard bank- Mzuzu- 0121201353300-savings
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