Four Malawi opposition parties form electoral alliance: To announce torch bearer Monday
An opposition alliance consisting of four political parties namely UTM Party, Peoples Party (PP), Alliance for Democracy (Aford) and Tikonze Progressive Party has been formed and will name its torch bearer on Monday in the capital Lilongwe.
A joint statement issued by the parties made available to Nyasa Times on Friday comes barely 24 hours after Vice President and UTM Party president Saulos Chilima announced at a news conference in Lilongwe on Wednesday that his party was in talks with other opposition parties for a possible electoral alliance.
“We, the members of UTM, People’s Party (‘PP’), Alliance for Democracy (‘AFORD’) and Tikonze Progressive Movement (‘TPM’), (hereinafter ‘the Parties’) acting through our duly elected leaders; Hereby announce the formation of an electoral alliance between the Parties for the purposes of contesting in the May 2019 Tripartite Elections,” reads the statement in part.
“The parties have agreed to support one presidential candidate who shall be announced on Monday, 4thFebruary, 2019 at Bingu International Conference Centre at 9:30am,” adds the statement signed by UTM President Saulos Chilima, former president and PP leader Joyce Banda, Aford president Enock Chihana and Tikonze movement interim vice president Mark Katsonga.
The parties said they decided to go into an electoral alliance after appreciating the undoubted importance of unity among all Malawians, irrespective of political persuasions, to the attainment of this country’s development goals and recognizing that cooperation between well-meaning and unselfish Malawians sharing common political ideologies and interests is indispensable and in the interests of ordinary Malawians.
The parties also said another reason for the electoral alliance is that they realized that there is a groundswell for support united front among Malawians discontented with the sad state of affairs in this country.
“Further details of the electoral alliance shall be announced at the aforesaid press conference which shall be addressed by the undersigned leaders of the Parties,” concludes the statement.
Political commentators have hailed the move taken by the four parties saying this is the only way that would defeat the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the May 21 tripartite elections.
They say the alliance will bring together “different lifestyles and political opinions” under democratic principles for sustainable development in Malawi.
Chilima’s plan is to get a share of cashgate’s money..at least now u know that u can’t fit Malawi
Akweni Kaliati, apatu pamodzi ndi akulu akulu a chi katolika, chalichi chanu, monga a Bishopu Msosa’wo mwangomusokoneza mutu mwana wa eni! Wakhumudwa chifukwa wakumana nazo.
Monga wanenelamo ndemanga @ Ndangodutsamo, nanga “coalition” imeneyi itheka poti nonse mumakhumbana posachedwa pompa? Zitheka bwa?
Udf babies except Katsonga. Udf gave birth to nda, dpo, pp, LP, ppm (aleke Banda), and utm ndi mdzukulu wa udf. Don’t forget Enock Katola Phiri now Chihana stood as a candidate for udf in Kasungu Central in 2004. Do we have to trust these frustrated useless politicians. A Malawi nusapuse nazo izi ndi hard core thieves. Pitala ndi uyu akuti bridge 180 km. Pitala ndi uyu amati Chipembere was sentenced to Zomba Central Hospital with hard labour. Pitala ndi uyu amati let ne warning you. Is Pitala mentally sound and is turning into a child again? Wakalamba. Pitala ndi… Read more »
Kikiki ka alliance ka babby chilima and his ex-VPs komvetsa chisoni zedi. Muwonakuti mupanga bwanji otherwise DPP ikuphwasamulani the way it won over the MCP-UDF alliance afew years ago.
Shame shall be upon bishop msusa come 21May for giving this babby chilima false hopes. Muwona za Fayulu chaka chino.
DPP Booma!
I am titally dissappointed with you SCK I liked you plan for Malawi.But you are not walking the talk hence,I have with drawn my vote.You not principled.
Zachamba basi. So Callista now has to work with Mandasi woman they used to blame for Bingus Death. Kabwira used to say JB is the most useless president we have ever had. Kaliati and midnight six did not want JB to takeover as president and lets not get started on how Kaliati and Kabwila went at each other at parliament and in Papers. Ralph Kasambara, a friend of SKC and supporter of UTM was used as cashgate scapegoat by JB mpaka ku Zomba prison. JB, Kaliati and them during Bingu’s first term amvekele Chilumpha treason. So now we have an… Read more »
Nkhanira nkhanira
So that means we should forget all the promises made before by each of those candidates? As a coalition will require a compromise and blend of manifesto promises.
I thought skc told us not to expect any alliance and to win it alone, and no VP for him to avoid VP-P conflicts? Now this? Should we take him seriously?
Ana achepa
Saulosi Chilima wapusitsa anthu apa. Zowona a Kaliati mwavomera zopusa ngati izi? Zowona a Masangwi mwatheka? A Kabwila mwabira phulusa. Enock Katola Phiri akuthandizani chiyani? Chilumpha mwakamufukula kuti. Kungoti dpp yakuzunzani as VPs Mwati mukumane to make an alliance of frustrated vice presidents. Did you consult with with Kaliati, Willet Karonga, Jesse Kabwira, Newton Kambala, Lucius Banda etc.? I can see many going back to party of thieves dpp. Many will come to MCP which is the hope of Malawians.