MCP rebuffs UTM as alliance talks starts with hitches
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) secretary general Einshower Mkaka on Tuesday night threw spanners into the proposed MCP-UTM alliance by telling the UTM Party team to ask its president Saulos Chilima to discuss with MCP presidential hopeful Lazarus Chakwera, Nyasa Times has learnt.
Senior UTM officials Patricia Kaliati and Jospeh Chidanti Malunga were furious after waiting for hours as MCP team played hide and seek.
However, spokespersons for both MCP and UTM are reluctant to give details of the talks which brought together a selected team of negotiators from both parties last night.
The first spanner was the meeting venue, with MCP officials insisted to be held at their headquarters in Lilongwe City Centre. The UTM team rejected.
The two parties then agreed to meet at Crossroads at 6pm.
As the UTM team was travelling from Area 10 offices, MCP officials called to say the party had given powers to Chakwera to negotiate any alliance.
The UTM had to retreat and it has since recommended that Chilima set up a solo campaign team and treat alliance negotiations as ‘plan B’.
Mkaka is suspected to be a Sidik Mia operative who wants his fanancier to run again as runningmate to Chakwera.
However, some people privy to the talks say the two parties might reach agreement although the sticky issue remained that of who will be the presidential candidate during the May 19 election.
“The discussions were held in a very peaceful and friendly atmosphere. At the end of it all,ban agreement will be reached,” said our source.
MCP wants party president Chakwera to be the torch bearer for the two parties in the polls while UTM is fighting for their leader Chilima.
Chakwera, meanwhile , is said to be searching for a runningmate from the North with former Speaker Richard Msowoya being targetted.
Apart from Msowoya, Chakwera also privately met Kamlepo Kalua and Ralph Mhone to see if they could run as PP runningmate as former president Joyce Banda cannot run.
Meanwhile, UTM officials are suspicious that Aford’s Frank Mwenefumbo who is close to UDF’s Atupele Muluzi is pretending to work with Chilima.
Mwenefumbo hosted UDF officials before they went to State House for signing ceremony.
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Chilima does not understand that often leadership is everything–it is the driver of a successful alliance, even cobbling together a ‘Malawi First Agenda’ for the alliance! If that is the case how can you make choosing a leader for an alliance the last thing??!!! If I was MCP I would allow Chilima to go lead his mother party DPP! and devote the remaining time on strategizing to carry the day with the resources available!!!
Hon. Kazombo is right osati akunenea a Hon mkaka see things at distance
MCP If you think you can win on your own forget .Let the best leader to head the alliance.and I suggest Chilima will be the best candidate. Iknow will not agree with me but pamapeto muzandimvomeleza
Please Dr. Chakwera and MCP you should to know that UTM is a spoiler. You should know that UTM will be home and dry seeing MCP in opposition again after the forthcoming elections. Chilima hates MCP in totality and does not want to see the mighty party in power with him in opposition. He is claiming to be popular but that nonsense. MC is a large party and you can sell yourself so cheaply. Chilima is power-hungry and he thinks is smart than anyone else – that’s nonsense again. Please prove your critics wrong that MCP is old-fashioned and that… Read more »
Folks, Chakwera wouldn’t be that desperate and stupid to pick on clueless Msowoya or emotional Mhone or sellout Kamlepo. The thing is that the proposed MCP/UTM Alliance is sending shivers down many spines and agents of doom will go to any length to derail the discussions going on. That said, Chakwera and Chilima should know that Malawians are keenly watching what is going on and to them nothing short of a successful outcome of the discussions will be accepted. There is goodwill out there and people will support you come the day. Believe you me one careless move such as… Read more »
UTM, if MCP rejects the alliance, just join DPP-UDF alliance akhaule amenewo
Kapote is waiting more time by writing different stories about MIA and CHAKWERA and we all know whom you are working with but dont worry wait and see.
Kapote wasting more time
mwana onyoza kholo lake afe ndithu bible limatero
bwera kwa adad azakulandira bwinonso iwe kuteoku ukupanga mwano mary amache kwao ndi kwa kamoto kuteroko so why behaving like that
make alliance with afford this will work unlike mcp mpoto yonse idzakhala yako ndiye kuphatikiza ntcheu wapiti basi awo amcp angofuna akugwiritse ntchito kenaka azakutaye. nanga sakuona mtima wako. stand alone you will make it