Joyce Banda favours opposition coalition for Malawi’s good —Report
Former president Joyce Banda says opposition parties should select a joint candidate in this year’s presidential election to unseat President Peter Mutharika and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and that she would be ready to “turn the page” and let anyone lead.
If this happens, that alliance could pose the most credible challenge to President Mutharika, the flag bearer of the ruling DPP hat is in a loose alliance with the United Democratic Front (UDF) led by Minister of Health, Atupele Muluzi.
Banda, who served as Malawi’s first female president from 2012 to 2014, has said she is prepared not to run and back the electoral alliance for Malawi to “have a good leader who is able to decisively deal with various problems the country if facing.”
Said Banda in quotes reported by The Nation newspaper on Monday: “If it was possible, a coalition should be the best option as has been the case in many countries. I, personally, don’t mind anybody leading that alliance.”
Banda ‘s People’s Party (PP) can make a strong showing in the northern and eastern regions, while Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has support in central region stronghold and now southern Lower .
New party UTM of Vice-president Saulos Chilima has never been politically tested despite having high profile personalities in his party.
On the other hand, the Malawi Forum for Unity and Development (MAFUNDE), Malawi Democratic Party (MDP), the Alliance for Democrcay and Development (ADD) and the Peoples Transformation Party (PETRA), are all tiny and are very unlikely to win parliamentary seats.
In an extended coverage, The Nation editorial comment titled ‘political coalitions must be for Malawi’s good’ pointed out that Banda’s pronouncement are not too surprising.
“Any right-thinking politician will see that votes in the next election are likely to be fragmented with no real majority winner,” reads the comment in part.
The paper cited the recent survey conducted by the Zomba-based Institute of Public Opinion and Research (Ipor) between August and September 2018 which indicated DPP is poised to take 33 percent of the votes, followed by MCP with 31 percent and UTM Party with 28 percent and PP trailing a distant six percent.
“It therefore makes sense that opposition parties aiming to unseat the current government opt for an alliance,” said the paper.
It cautioned that parties should race against time and urged the parties to have a clear agenda based on shared values.
“We hope that whatever coalition may emerge this time around, whether on the opposition or governing side, they will be more about policy choices than just winning an election,” advised the paper.
It said emphasis should be on working towards rebuilding the nation than disintegrating it further.
Reads the comment in conclusion: “It is interesting that almost each leader that has governed Malawi has said Malawi has valuable resources that can take it out of the abyss of poverty to prosperity. This is what coalitions should aim for to offer Malawians a new better lease of life.”
Meanwhile, University of Malawi’s Chancellor College-based political commentator Ernest Thindwa has observed that opposition parties “stand better to benefit a lot from an electoral coalition.”
But he noted that chances of an electoral alliance were “unlikely” because each one of them thinks that they can win on their own.
Social commentator Stanley Onjezani Kenani posted on Facebook: “I think the former president, Mrs Joyce Banda, is the only voice of reason in a crowded opposition field. She says she is open to the idea of a coalition. She does not mind who leads it. The truth is, the murderous DPP can only be defeated if the opposition rallies behind one candidate. But egos the size of Kilimanjaro will, once again, hand victory to thieves.”
Malawi, one of the world’s poorest and most aid-dependent countries, will hold presidential, parliamentary and local council elections on May 21.
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Amai ukutu ndiye kulankhula.
Chonde MCP,PP UTM unite and kick these thugs out.
Kusheto kwele ni kuwecheta ishallah nditu. Madam kumeneku ndiye kulankhula tchutchutchu kuti a Malawi mutiombole.
JB needs to shut up and take care of her grandchildren, she was given the presidency on a sliver platter in 2012 but CASHGATED the country
The problem with JB is that she already has a pre conceived plan for the alliance and that she wants to elevate Son Roy who is very unpopular among the youth to be the VP of any coalition in other words JB still wants to rule, she is still power hungry
Just don’t ome with ridiculous demands to the negotiating table, your son Roy Akajuwe Kachale Banda cannot be the VIce President of any coalition period.
Akuti akhala running mate wa Arafat Hamdan no wonder this cashgate queen is saying ine sindiima
Colission or Colliation – kiikkkkkkkkkkkkkkk whatever it is known.
masikuano timavotera muntu osati chipani osewa ngakale atapatikizana mutharika ,chakwela, mai joice banda, atupele onsewa are educational fools only chilima is wise enough who can turn up the economy enaonse anzingodya ndalama zaboma koma output you very low in terms of human capital which can only turn up the mucher stuck economy , zikoli linafa kale kale pakufunika jeneous who turn the economy fast
The stumbling block to the opposition grand alliance is the over ambitious Chilima and his UTM. In all fairness MCP is much bigger than UTM and its only logical to let Chakwera lead the alliance.
And another factor in favour of letting Chakwera lead is that both Mama JB and SKC have already made their lifetime pension, as already alluded to by SKC at Kauma rally, so its only wise to give a chance to Chakwera make his pension too.
@Che Wanimilliyoni:
So, to you, the pension issue is the most important factor? Not governance?
Iwe uli ndi peshon, iwe?
You can gang up, but DPP will still carry the day.
First priority has to be given to chilima and chakwera — muluzi lost his chance — Joyce lost her chance –muthalikas have lost their chance –malawians expectations are very very high –please please ! Don’t pull Malawians dreams backwards —
Both these embiciles are pompus and rude. Can’t taste state house.
This shows how strong DPP is. Opposition is heading for crashing defeat.
The only possible colission for JB is MCP. Why? you were fooled by Chilima and APM 2014, these people are not patriotic and enemies of Democracy. Can you share your visions with? You like Malawi, thats wy you called for forensic
Timati coalition, not colission. Mutha kumalembanso m’chichewa.
Phatikizanani adzakunyenyereni limodzi.
Madam JB you are talking sense. The solution, though, is easy, your party should start teaming up with MCP and the rest will follow.
Patrick Phiri are you happy with what cadets are doing to Malawians now? Are you a Malawian or a beast from Bokoharam? People are hating the behaviors of cadets while mbwiyako opanda mano mkamwa aliphwiii osalankhulapo kanthu? DPP did not create the people of Malawi so ukamalankhura uzidziwa kuti anthu amene akupangidwa chipongwewo ndi a Malawi ndipo mukuyambitsa nkhondo imene idzavuta kutha kwake mapazi ako wanva.
just another nyusesi
Malawi people are suffering –it’s the wish/hope of every God loving
Individual to see Malawians get out of these sufferings —but why is it that our Leaders don’t want to join hands ?? We are forced to believe that some of these leaders are albino sellers— vampires –anachipantis–Women breast cutters —-
That is a mature way and a symbol of being patriotic. MCP + PP could make a formidable force against DPP or DPP + UDF. MCP must approach JB on the coalition. Bola Bakali Muluzi asawanyengerere Mayi JB wa.
Joyce Banda is showing unselfish matual reasoning power of mind.If MCP and UTM were to love their country and have maganizo opasa chidwi ngati amenewa,zinthu zingawayendere. But I doubt ndi mitu yakeyo Maka Maka MCP.
Amayi apatu zikuonekeratu kuti ma Plan akutherani. Osangoyamba zopemphera bwanji?
Or akanangoyamba uzamba. ukanamukhalatu.
chokani afiti inu simuyamba kupha anthu posachedwapa ndikunena inuyo ma cadet agalu achabe chabe
I would Support the UTM / PP Alliance with Chilima and Banda on one ticket
Such a pairing cannot yield any victory. PP and MCP makes more sense and would rattle the DPP/UDF team. After all, much of the former PP Executive is already with MCP so Amai would feel more secure with MCP than the unpredictable UTM
Zopusa ndipo sopusisana baasi.
Let every Party fight on its own, and prove its mettle.
Elections are not like a street fight where ganging up is the norm.