Atupele Muluzi retains UDF presidency: Touts ‘new beginning’, says ready to lead Malawi
United Democratic Front (UDF) two-day convention started Wednesday at Comesa Hall in Blantyre where Atupele Austin (AA) Muluzi was retained as party president unopposed and said he had gained experience not just to lead the party but the nation as well.
Hailing a “new beginning” young Muluzi said in a sober address that he will unveil a robust manifesto developing “a clear plan” as to how UDF will govern Malawi.
“As I lead our party for a further five years, I do so with that plan. I believe I have the experience and the knowledge not just to lead the UDF but our country as we move to the next step in our national history,” Muluzi said.
“I am not interested in feathering my cap and I hope that the team that will support me, understand that is not a path that any of us can take,” he said.
Muluzi, who is serving as Minister of Health and Poluation in the Peter Mutharika’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration, pointed out that Malawi has lost way too much already.
“We are facing some significant challenges. Challenges that have grown from the evillest of all human traits, greed. Greed is a very dangerous motivation as it seems to be always able to find new fuel to justify itself,” said Muluzi.
Muluzi said he shares the opinion of many in the country on the need to once again focus on the ideals that the UDF was once founded – democracy, development, peace and unity.
“Unity is the underlying principle upon which everything else is then built. We are a diverse nation, that diversity has in the past been seen as a key part of our identity, but today we seem to focus on a very small, if densely populated, part of the country. A key principle of development is to leave no one behind – to do that effectively in Malawi means ensuring that we have representation and engagement with every corner of our beautiful land,” he said in remarks broadcast live on private –owned Zodiak Radio and Television.
Mibawa TV also was showing the UDF convention live.
Muluzi noted that at the heart of any progress must be a sustainable economy, saying a great deal of effort has gone into stabilising the economy over recent years.
“We have seen the dividends through falling inflation and improved confidence. However, only a very small number of people have actually benefited from this,” he noted.
The UDF leader also promised to make job creation a priority in 2019 but said he could not promise of numbers.
“What I am not going to do is commit to the number of jobs in 12 months’ time – I am not sure that you would trust me if I did – I am going to commit to focussing on establishing the conditions so we can create the jobs together,” he said.
He said there will be candid plans to improve the hospitals and health centres, increase the number of teenage girls in school, to find solutions for reliable power, water and internet together.
“As we work together on these issues as a country, the benefits will become very apparent for everyone regardless where you are – however we must all make change happen – it will not happen if we sit idly on our hands and hope someone else will do it for us,” said Muluzi.
Muluzi said he was ready to deliver meaningful change.
“I love Malawi and I want to transform it. I have travelled my journey amassing the experience needed to lead Malawi. I truly believe that change is possible and that my focus on targeted investment in infrastructure, better connectivity and stronger relationships will mean that we can really become the Malawi we all dream of.
“Through this development we will deliver real, sustainable and valued jobs and deliver effective essential services for all – leaving no one behind,” he said.
Muluzi concluded his speech by urging UDF members to work together in “a single direction”.
“I would welcome the opportunity to lead you in that direction and guide us into once again governing Malawi. Together we can make change happen and establish a new beginning for our country,” said Muluzi.
Apart from Muluzi, secretary general Kandi Padambo won his seat unopposed and others who were unchallenged to their posts included vice president (North)-Victoria Mponela ,vice president (East)-Lilian Patel, treasurer general-Carlton Sichinga and deputy national organising secretary-Andrew Mkana.
Voting for the position of Central Region vice president has been suspended due to a stolen booklet with some of the candidates’ names that might affect the voting process.
Former President of the country, Bakili Muluzi, who is also founder of UDF, addressed the conference earlier.
Other notable dignitaries at the convention include ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s secretary general Greselder Jeffrey, vice president (south) Kondwani Nankhumwa and regional governor (south) Charles Mchacha; paramount chiefs Ngolongoliwa and Kawinga and Umodzi Party president John Chisi.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
If his performance as a Minister in DPP-led government is anything to go by then he (Atupele) hasn’t learnt a things. No visible and credible performance in the ministries he waist charge of. In fact i would concede that those ministries regressed and failed to deliver. Given a whole country, he will be overwhelmed and crack under pressure. UDF will only survive if it goes into coalition with any of the political parties now in play i.e. DPP, MCP or the new kid on the block UTM. Atupele Muluzi isn’t a presidential material, yet.
You have failed as minister of health with hospitals without drugs and you are dreaming of running a country? sir with due respect think again
It’s a waste of time to be followed udf. The Muluzi family should be ashamed for bringing this country down. All this theft started with Bakili. The public schools are with dogs because of Muluzi. Many bad things are associated with Muluzi.
I believe Malawians are sick and tired of family politics or dynastys!. We need to move on past Bandas, Muluzis, Mutharikas , Tembos, Kadzamiras names pleeeeease! They all have failed mother Malawi miserably!
Please put in mind that being the son or the daughter of the President,does not imply that you have the rights to become the next President..This is where we Malawians have gone wrong. In Tanzania,Nyerere refused this kind of barbaric administration.sitting.in power for morethan 30 years,Nyerere admitted openly that he made a mistake to cling on power for such a long time.Now the son of Muluzii,wants to rule us as his father did.What I would advise Atupele is that forget about that,Malawi is not for SALE!!! Atupele wants Malawi to become another Muslim State as his father did?Malawi is not MECA to bring in thousands of uncouth Muslims as the Europeans are seeing today.Already in the MCP, there are such plans to ship into Malawi thousands of Muslims, for what? Afterall,Atupele is not ready to lead our nation.If his father failed how about him? Malawi is not for one family alone,it is for us ALL.!!!!!!
UDF should pair up with UTM in light of similar ideologies and meeting of the minds regarding how to take Malawi forward. It pointless to divide votes amongst the opposition against DPP.
When u read comments u can easily tell those that belong to UTM supporters. Full of hate & anger!!! Nde skc akazaluza muzayambisa nkhondotu. What is happening Ku Zimbabwe now are the fruits of that altitude. Having force conviction kuti u r very popular.
He is a follower not a leader. He failed to lead chipani how can he lead a country? He should stay as Mutharika’s puppet.
Bravo Udf, Bravo Atupele congratulations enawa azitopa ndikutukwana
Ine ndi Chauta wa nsanje. Ndidzalanga wana chifukwa cha atate ayo. Ulangika chifukwa cha Bakili Muluzi. Ona kutukwana Bingu pa Chisitu. https://youtu.be/yQuyrArarlg
I passed by several times today but noticed little or no change from the daily goings on at the site. Must be a dull gathering.
ZIPANI ZA FAMILY-DPP AND UDF.THIS IS NOT DYNASTY.FROM ONE MULUZI TO ANOTHER, SIMILARLY FROM ONE MUTHARIKA TO ANOTHER.
DPP AND UDF MUST GO IN 2019!!!!!!!!!!!!!MUUPONDA 2019!
You have to move the party beyond its confines now. You have to make people dream of a better Malawi. Be vigorous. Be active and things will start happening.
This guy would be selling mandasi in Salima if it wasn’t for the nepotism of his ex-President father. Asatinamize
One foot still in DPP evidenced by the presence DPP Secretary General and DPP VP South
Agenda for change was swallowed by DPP pano anogolubwalubwa………. ..what a shame!
Well spoken but the sad thing is that on its own UDF can not win, it is just a regional party and few supporters here and there from other regions, especially Salima and Nkhotakota and these are mainly …………………………………………………………………
Was his speech meant to inspire people or bore them to death, I listened to it and felt very disappointed, not energized at all even some of the delegates were caught taking naps
Msonkhano wa apumbwa okhaokha uwu akufuna apange alliance.
Ndiyeno I we bvuto lako ndi chani? Umaganiza kuti apanga alliance ndi ufiti wa ambuyako chitsiru chogona mchimbuzi
@ Saulos chilimwe
Eeh koma mumatukwana Wawa.
Start the discussion…Mbuzi cheque walandila from DPP kuti chipani wagulitsa, peta akupatse urunning mate wo. mwana omvetsa chisoni.
Mubalirani inu skc mwati ice tili phee kumva kukoma after all we don’t have time for castigating any body what we are looking for is diversity and development is our moto here no time of greed… Ndipo munyenyedwa come 2019 may ask chamisa has started crying like chicks. But mind you and watch your back that the names you are the first citizen is a crime to the nation cause he is carrying and protecting the nation flag….. Malawi is the only country we have….
Heey guys this young man is nothing but a nonentity.Failing to talk real issues because the Blue Ribbon bread is in the mouth shiit