Lucius declares interest to challenge Atupele Muluzi for UDF presidency: Teams up with Omar
United Democratic Front (UDF) Member of Parliament for Balaka North, Lucius Banda says he will challenge the party’s president Atupele Muluzi during the party’s forthcoming elective convention alleging that at the moment, the party lacks a leader who is committed to the party’s agenda.
The musician-cut-politician said this on Wednesday in Dowa soon after meeting the district’s party committee where he appealed and encouraged the leaders to unite in rebuilding the party.
Banda, who was accompanied by the party’s First Vice President Igbar Omar, said UDF is a democratic party and that is why its leadership has called for a convention where everyone will be free to compete for any position.
He trashed assertions by some people who have been saying that the party had died, saying the UDF belongs to people.
“UDF is alive and strong. It’s the people at the grass root who make up a party, the fact that the leader went into government does not mean the party has died. The party will die when there will be no people,” he said.
On his part, the party’s first vice president said he will support Banda’s bid to become president of UDF since he has demonstrated that he is a leader who cannot be easily swayed by inducements.
Omar said UDF was still strong in Dowa and other parts of the country, but only needed good leadership ahead of the 2019 tripartite elections, adding he has observed good leadership traits in Banda. He appealed to the party committee in Dowa to support Banda for his UDF presidential bid.
Commenting on the message by Banda, some UDF party leaders who attended the meeting said they appreciated the effort by the UDF presidential aspirant in trying to revamp the party to make it more popular.
Dowa UDF chairlady, Evelyn Phiri said UDF members found themselves lacking direction after its leader joined government and have now been relieved with the coming of Banda to address, encourage and give them direction.
“We will work hard, and see to it that if there are some people who left the party because they had been discouraged, they will rejoin since we now have a leader,” she said.
District governor for the party, Samuel Gwetsera said the coming of Banda to address them was encouraging and pledged the district’s support for him.
Asked if he did not like their party president working with the government to help in its development agenda irrespective of party affiliation and tribe among others, Gwetsera said he liked it but with reservations.
“We are not against our president working with the DPP-led government, what we don’t like is that he is doing nothing to help the party.
“He should have used one hand to work for the government and another to lift our party. He should have used his position to gain experience with which to help our party,” he said.
President Mutharika appointed UDF President Atupele Muluzi into cabinet soon after the 2014 tripartite elections to help his government in its development agenda. However, this was met with resistance by some UDF officials who feared the move would weaken their party.
Banda is the only UDF parliamentarian who refused to relocate to government side in the national assembly when all members of the party did so in 2016.
He was once convicted after being found guilty of presenting a forged Malawi School Certificate of Education in 2004 during the reign of former DPP President, the late Bingu wa Mutharika
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Basi Standard 7 yawo ija ati akhale President???? Wither my Malawi!
Lucius GO AHEAD THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING
First he should ask himself why his move of not supporting Atupele’s move is not backed by any other UDF MP. He is bitter because Atu is working with the party he hates most. But the guy should know that he fell into that pit not because Bingu hated him but because he was used to destroy Bingu. It is him who wanted to shine by challenging to handle standing orders for impeaching Bingu. He could walk majestically in Parliament in those days thinking the silly plot would work. Bingu thought of teaching this bastard a small lesson and it… Read more »
Opanda nzeru uyu angatiuze chani!
While I have great respect for Lucius as a musician who has braved the odds and survived more than a decade as a musician. I will advise him to tread carefully because leading a big political party which won the first democratic elections is not a small feat. UDF is a sleeping giant and do not underrate Atupele. He may seem docile and lacking in direction but he usually talks in calcualted and measured way-the instincts of someone who if given the right experience and exposure will one day bounce back to rule Malawi. I am not a supporter of… Read more »
Well done Lucius Banda! There is sense in whatever you are doing. What’s the point of having a democracy Government if the opposition is being silinced by the ruling government. Go on boy! Wish you all the best.
Koma abale, a pulezidenti a dziko la Malawi akhale a JC komanso MSCE yakuba!!! Dziko lathadi, Ambuye bwerani msanga uve umeneu usanachitike.
It’s health to have people challenge the leadership. Atupele demonstrated selfishness when he abandoned the party just to get a ministerial position. His party is on a death bed. Let someone take over while you are busy with Dpp.
He should have started the campaign in his constituency. Why is he starting with Dowa? Is he the same Lucious who was assisting MCP to campaign for Msungama in Lilongwe? Was that UDF agenda?
UDF don’t worry akulu amenewa panopa ndi tsabola wakale. Wasting time with Omar? Where is his constituency? Nayenso ndi akale ndipo sanunkha.
Lucius analowa kongilesi kalekale ndipo anaiwala nyimbo yake yabwino ija “mzimu wa a Gadama”.
kodi mwana uyu wakhuta chani? upulezedenti wa chipani wasiyana ndi band. anthu ambiri amalota kukhala pulezedenti koma amalephera chifukwa amasankha molakwika. concentrate on your band young man!