UDF dismisses ‘anonymous’ petition as works of detractors

United Democratic Front (UDF) has trashed accusations over its governing pact with ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Social media has been awash with a petition purportedly from anonymous National Executive Council (NEC) members to the party’s leader Atupele Muluzi over his support for President Peter Mutharika and DPP.

The petition calls the governing pact as fruitless, saying at this time when the DPP is facing all economic and governance challenges, the UDF does not want to be part of the rot through a shambolic alliance.

“The UDF should also take an opportunity to make a statement over the current tough economic times. The president must de-link himself from the party in power and President Mutharika and show direction to the party,” reads the anonymous petition.

But UDF spokesman Ken Ndanga said the party does not stifle debate on any matter and expects its NEC members to raise concerns openly and not through “dark corners.”

“It is not wrong to express issues but UDF cannot deal with anonymous petition,” said Ndanga.

“We do have members who provide robust debate on matters that concern our party but we cannot entertain issues from ghost members,” he added.

“Much as issues are talking about our party but the people that are promoting the petition are not the UDF people but belong to another party,” said Ndanga without mentioning the party.

Recently University of Malawi political analyst Dr Henry Chingaipe alleged the affair as an arrangement between the elected political elites of the parties.

“As such, I find it difficult to call it a coalition as not all members are involved nor were all concerned consulted; hence making it a secret ‘coalition’,” said Chingaipe.

Chingaipe said it was expected that UDF would be in a closer relationship with DPP after UDF President Atupele Muluzi was appointed into Cabinet.

But he said if the current arrangement fell apart, the government would still function as if nothing ever happened.

“With coalitions, the scenarios would be very different. The UDF/DPP arrangement is simply some kind of a ‘a political pact’ that began with agreements at personal level and over time, following the drift of patrimonial politics that characterise our political leaders, extended to their political parties,” said Chingaipe.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :