Over 300 DPP followers defect to UDF in Chiradzulu
Some 300 plus Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) followers from Chiradzulu district have dumped their party and joined fellow opposition United Democratic Front (UDF).
The defectors announced their decision during a party meeting held at Group Village Headman Dyanyama in the area of Sub T/A Sandiraki in Chiradzulu North Constituency.
The development comes a few weeks after over 1 000 people from the country’s different political parties also announced their defection to the former ruling party currently being led by 35-year-old Atupele Muluzi during a rally held in Lilongwe City West constituency.
The DPP supporters said they decided to defect to the UDF following challenges they have been facing in their particular parties.
John Jamwithi, one of the defectors, said on behalf of other rebels, they thought of dumping the DPP for UDF because they do not see any future in the party under the leadership of Peter Mutharika.
In his welcome remarks, UDF Deputy National Director of Youth, Shaibu Kaliati assured the new members that UDF had put in place policies that aim at enhancing Malawians’ welfare.
“The UDF has ensured that it puts in place policies that aim to achieve and sustain economic growth in which the poor people and vulnerable women and men participate directly as both agents and beneficiaries,” he said.
He also explained the new agenda for change strives to change the culture of centralized decision-making in politics and promote power distribution to the lower levels of the government.
Last month, the DPP also lost about 275 followers from Lilongwe district who also joined UDF alongside over 300 from the Malawi Congress Party and about 220 members from the ruling People’s Party (PP).
UDF Vice President, IQba Omar, welcomed the defectors and said the development was due to the party’s agenda for change and a true testimony that Malawians were satisfied with the party’ leader (Muluzi) who has a clean political record.
The UDF, founded by retired first Malawian President under multiparty, Bakili Muluzi before his son (Atupele) took over the mantle, is one of the frontline parties during this year’s May 20 Tripartite Elections.
Other main parties include the governing People’s Party (PP) being led by President Joyce Banda, former ruling DPP and the country’s oldest political grouping, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) of Rev Lazarus Chakwera.
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