Political experts tip UDF to review its affair with DPP

Malawi political experts are tipping the United Democratic Front (UDF) to review its relationship with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) if the former ruling party is seriously considering to contest as strong contenders for the 2019 general elections.

This follows the succesful political rallies UDF president Atupele Muluzi held recently in Chikwawa and Machinga where he resurrected his agenda for change political theme of ‘Malawi first’ which was first touted at a party convention four years ago.

Mustafa Hussein, a political scientist at the public elite college, Chancellor College said the DPP, the political bed fellow of the UDF is embroiled in many problems that can cut its political life at the ballot box.

He explained of the embattled former Agriculture minister George Chaponda saga, corruption allegations and other thefts of government resources known as gates. “This is the right time for the UDF to come out clear and say whether it would field a presidential candidate or not,” he said.

If the UDF would battle it out alone at the ballot box, then it needed to break away from its alliance with the DPP which he said is now tainted with bad governance especially in corruption and thefts of money and resources from the public purse. Another political expert from Chancellor College Kayuni said there was need for the UDF to review its alliance with the DPP and concetrate to strengthen its grass root support.

“The party has just  lessthat 20 members of parliament yet this was the most powerful party with over 100 members of parliament. There is need for it to concetrate in rebuilding the party,” he said.

Party spokesperson Ken Ndanga said the UDF would not make decisions out of emotions.

He said the party is dynamic and makes decisions based on dynamics of politics.

Ndanga said UDF has never discussed or indicated that it would contest the 2019 polls in partnership with DPP.

“Working together in Parliament is not an elections’ issue. The elections will take place in 2019 and by then the UDF would have had conducted a process of identifying its leader through a convention and the NEC [national executive committee] will decide when to meet,” he said.

Ndanga also said the party has always been guided by its constitution on the issue and there is no departure from that and that UDF member is aware of the party’s activities.

“This year alone we have had three public rallies and other activities all of them led by our president Atupele Muluzi,” he said.

Ndanga said it is not true accusations that the UDF went into political alliance with the DPP to influence the dropping of the high level corruption case of former president Bakili Muluzi.

The state has not dropped the seven year old case which has been dragging in the courts since Muluzi transferred his state powers his successor, Bingu wa Mutharika in 2005.