Umodzi Party (UP) President Professor John Chisi has labeled the 2018/2019 national budget presented in the National Assembly on Friday last week by Minister of Finance and Economic Development Goodall Gondwe as a campaign tool for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the forthcoming tripartite election.

Gondwe presented a MK1.5 trillion budget last week with a promise that government will recruit 10,500 primary school teachers, 500 secondary school teachers and 1000 medical personnel.

“From this year govt will be recruiting teachers and health personnel soon after graduation and not wait for a year,” Gondwe was quoted as saying.

Apart from that Gondwe said government will employ over 10 thousand youths across the country and some will be attached to various government Ministries especially those from Colleges and Universities to boost their experience.

Speaking to the youths gathered at his office in Blantyre on Saturday, Chisi trashed the budget saying it’s a nonstarter.

“The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has promised to provide internship for the youths in various Ministries and my question is how will these youths identified?, and how transparent will the exercise be?, is this exercise viable for the youths in the country?.

“Beware this is a campign tool for the ruling DPP to woo support from the youths in the country who have been let down for so long. As UP we will create Ministry of industrialization once voted into power,” said Chisi.

He said time has come for Malawians root out political prostitutes in the country.

“If we do not root out the tree we will get the same fruits of nepotism, tribalism, corruption and lack of vision. Therefore, it’s time to plant a new seed so that we can enjoy a more prosperous, forthright society which provides opportunities for all.

“To achieve this, we must vote for people with a vision for Malawi. We must not vote for people or parties based on tribal or regional lines. We need to critically compare manifestos and vote for those that have innovative and feasible strategies. We must not follow blindly names which already failed,” he added.

When contacted for comment on the matter Gondwe confessed that the 2018/2019 national budget is a campaign tool for the ruling DPP.

“Every government has a campaign budget and what is wrong with us doing the same,” Gondwe was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile debate continues on the matter.