Malawi opposition in denial mode over opinion polls

Malawi opposition parties have been thrown into denial mode over opinion polls which show incumbent President Joyce Banda, who is representing People’s Party (PP) would win the May 20 Tripartite elections.

But political pundits urged the opposition to go back to drawing board and relook at their strategies instead of just crying foul.

In a published article by journalist Frank Jomo commissioned via the African Journalism Fund also indicates that Banda will emerge winner because of failure by the opposition to close ranks and unite.

The opposition have also issued conflicting polls over their popularity.

One poll suggests Malawi Congress Party (MCP) candidate Lazarus Chakwera will win the elections, another says Peter Mutharika of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will emerge the winner.

United Democratic Front (UDF) spokesman Ken Manga also said the party carried its research which indicates its presidential candidate Atupele Muluzi will win.

But  an opinion poll conducted by Research Tech Consultants, suggest President Banda would win the elections  with 42 percent followed Chakwera at 23 percent then  Mutharika and Atupele received favour from 10 percent of the 3 883 respondents.

MCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwila said they will not take the polls serious, saying they lack credibility.

DPP spokesperson Nicholas Dausi described the surveys tipping Banda as “political eerie”.

But University of Malawi political analyst Dr Mustafa Hussein said opinion polls which have been favouring Banda can only be disregarded by the opposition at their own peril.

The first prediction from the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) followed by an opinion poll conducted by Nyasa Times online and face-to-face interview also tipped Banda to win the elections but opposition argued methodology used were not scientific.

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