MCP slams door for electoral coalition: Presidential ticket sorted
Political analysts say Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera’s declaration of his party’s first vice-president Mohammad Sidik Mia as his running mate in the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections presidential race.has slammed the door for an electoral alliance talks .
Chakwera has become the first aspiring presidential candidate to declare Mia would be his vice-presidential running mate in the watershed election.
Ernest Thindwa, a political scientist at Chancellor College, a constituent of the University of Malawi, said Chakwera should have waited for electoral alliance deals with other political parties before making the announcement.
“This is a highly competitive election. Chakwera should have hammered some electoral alliance deals if the party is to get into power. The only party, which can bring significant votes, is the UTM but the announcement of the running mate has shut down all the doors for such talks,” he said.
During the announcement on Sunday in Mangochi, Chakwera said he would not go for alliances at the expense of the unity of his own MCP.
“Those who want to come to us to talk [on possible electoral alliances], can come, the door is open but I cannot do this at the expense of my party unity,” said Chakwera.
UTM leader Saulos Chilima had previously doubted his party would go for any alliance with MCP, saying there were no such talks.
He said his party was strong to amass enough votes to oust the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) from power at the ballot box and form the next government.
“We don’t need the help of any party for us to win the election but any party wishing to talk to us for a possible electoral alliance, our doors are open, we will listen and make a decision as a party,” said Chilima.
MCP publicity secretary Maurice Munthali said the announcement has settled dust after months of rumours and divisive speculations.
“We are happy that our president has named Alhaji Mohammed Sidik Mia as the running mate. This is a strong ticket. MCP has the capacity and capability to go it alone,” said Munthali.
Chakwera’s declaration at a rally in Monkey Bay, Mangochi is an unprecedented development in a country where presidential candidates keep their choices of running mates close to their chest until the day of presenting nomination papers usually around February.
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CHAKWERA HAS GOOFED BIG TIME . AM TOLD THERE WAS TO MUCH PRESSURE FROM MIA TO ANNOUNCE.
KOMADI ACHAKWERA NDI ABUSA ENIENI.. HE IS REALLY AN AMATEUR IN POLITICS
5 MONTHS IS TO LONG . OTHER PARTIES WILL SURPRISE HIM BEFORE MAY NEXT YEAR. ATAFUNA ASANAMEDZE !
Mukulira chani, You have the powers to choose the next party to govern. If you want MCP vote for it not because is in as alliance. MCP has shown to be principled party which makes decision not out of greedy of power but principle. Kachipani kanuko ngati mumafuna u president or vice you can enter into alliance ndi DPP. Mumuona wina atalonjezedwa u running mate ndikuzamutaya pokapereka ma nomination papers. Nthawi yake a MEC azakhala alibe. Ndikuza foila ngati Bambo ake. Look how they break Uladi and Jooma ministrial promises. Peter has his favorite. We are satisfied ndi pair imene… Read more »
I think those that are saying that Chakwela has erred in saying Mia would be his running mate are themselves on the wrong and those that are saying because of this MCP should forget of winning the elections, does not follow history if I may ask did DPP get into alliance to win the 2014 elections? Tell me are you the creator. No don’t cross the bridge before getting there.
Its so funny kuti atowawidwa mtima ndi a UTM ndi DPP ana kamozi.There nothing in Common between MCP and UTM .Let DPP form an alliance with UTM Chilima as running mate.Why should I Vote for UTM pomwe nditoziwa kuti itati iwine DPP wonseo azatobwelera konko poti anatozolowera kulandira Ma Billions in dubious.Ndie chaka cha Mawa muzizatolira kuti munatopusisidwa ,tulo Amalawi.I rather Vote for a Party which when in Opposition remains in Opposition. Viva MCP.
You wanted MCP to form an alliance with UTM?
It is funny that most comments appear to fault Chakwera and MCP. I don’t think the problem is MCP nor Chakwera. The key problem in Malawi is greed, which has given space to the formation of many political parties most of which are irrelevant. The question we should be asking ourselves is: Why do we have several political parties in a small country like ours? What new ideologies are these parties bringing to the land? These are the questions we should be addressing. Don’t put every blame at a political party or the individuals leading it. The opposition vote has… Read more »
Let those who want to form alliances go ahead as for us we don’t need it. We will move forward in unity and not pieces bundled pretending to be one.
There’s no way DPP can win 2019 elections. No way
MCP’s chance to form the next government is high. More than 50% of the people following Chilima are from DPP
APM wherever he is, he is smiling at the chance that Chakwera has just given him for a landslide. Nothing will stop the electoral alliance of DPP and UDF. DPP sichipani chosewela nacho. It will be 30 years in opposition for MCP and Still birth for UTM.