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UDF task force members seek unity

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Praise Liomba 30 April, 2008 04:00:00
image Republican Vice President Dr Cassim Chilumpha lost as Task Force candidate

Executive members of the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) who were behind the taskforce and supported the candidature of Vice President Dr Cassim Chilumpha at the convention have appealed to the party to exercise reconciliation.

 Some of the party executive members who were part of the taskforce included the Chilumpha himself, jailed Sam Mpasu, Yusuf Matumula, Muhammad Kulesi and Rashid Nembo.

Matumula said it would be very unfortunate for the party to sideline them for their support to party presidential candidate's Dr Bakili Muluzi's challenger.

"UDF stands for real democracy, let the party heart beat accept the position that we took," Matumula said.

He said people misunderstood the cause that the taskforce was working for.

"We were not working to destabilize the party. What we were doing was to build the democratic image of the UDF to the outsiders and in the final analysis, democracy reigned supreme in UDF. Others parties would have to emulate what we went through which unfortunately I don't see any party coming closer to our exercise of democracy," said Matumula.

"Look here, if the Vice President could not nave contested against Muluzi, what do you think people could have said about UDF and Muluzi? The fruits of the struggle that we undertook would be enjoyed with the passage of time," said the businessman who is answering treason charges alongside Chilumpha.

In his acceptance speech after being elected the party's presidential candidate in the May 19 2009 polls, Muluzi said the taskforce will no longer be recognized in the party.

He then warned anybody against destabilizing the party.

However, Muluzi called for burying of political hatches and extended an olive branch to his rivals to work together in winning the next year's polls.

Matumula said the members of the task force welcomed Muluzi's gesture and were looking forward to help the party and its candidate win next year's elections. 

Comments (2 posted):

gomonda on 30 April, 2008 09:53:12
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atcheya ndi zomwe timayembekezera choncho bravo cassim iyo ndiye demokalase
Tayani Banda on 30 April, 2008 10:23:19
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This is not right!! There should not be any talk of reconcilliation in the first place!! Why? Because in a democratic world competition, participation and equal opportunity is the essence of everything. The dudes that supported the Veep are not outsiders, they are part of the party and should be regarded as such!! They are not "enemies" of anyone. Its only people who have an outward appearance of democray while being dictators at heart that would regard the Chilumpha troop as "enemies"! Shame on you!!
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