The gathering battle of by-elections: Will MCP prove its might over UTM?
From a distance, Tonse Alliance torchbearers, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and UTM, seem to be dancing and eating together, peacefully, at the high government table.
However, if you take a closer and deeper look, you will note that the two are not united because each, separately and silently, is maneuvering the other in the political game of wooing more people to their respective folds.
Simply put, MCP and UTM are together but not united.
In fact, the two, politically speaking, will barely unite because there is an intrinsic ego that runs separately in them; one that gives each side a sense of superiority over the other.
MCP, as an organization, has a traditional ego of seeing itself as a resiliently bigger party and, sometimes, they feel that with careful strategic politicking on the ground, they can, in the next elections, succeed without UTM.
UTM, on the other hand, does not have an institutional ego. Their ego is personalized in their charismatic and fearless Saulos Chilima who touts himself, and analysts agree, as a kingmaker.
But to ask who, between MCP and UTM, is mightier than the other is akin to asking which, between the left and the right hand, should be chopped when presented with such an unlikely question.
For the good of Malawi democracy and, again, the health of the alliance, it is important these two hands are kept—because, in them, there is a spirit that runs within that makes these two hands support each other involuntary.
However, this is politics—it is irregular as it is controversial and contradictory. Politicians are driven by two appetites: either to get power if they don’t have it; or to keep it if they have it.
MCP and UTM should fight, yes; but not destructive fights that dims the alliance. They should fight on the ground with a focus of uniting the energies needed to retain the presidency within their fold.
But if the two doubt the might of the other, well, let them prove they can fight, as family, and see who wins big in the coming by-elections shortly.
There are three by-elections on the cards: in Karonga, Mangochi and Lilongwe. Two of the seats were already in the hands of MCP and the one, in Mangochi, was in the hands of DPP.
The beautiful aspect in these elections is the protracted battle between friends, MCP and UTM, and, at the journey’s ends, it will be interesting to see who the cap fits.
In all the drudgery of this fight, this battle boils down to one painful but truthful fact: Will MCP prove its might over UTM?
Truth be told, after these by-elections, the political tone and favour will fundamentally change in Tonse Alliance and that, ladies and gentleman, will define the fate of President Lazarus Chakwera’s government.
Let the battles begin!
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U seem to be a journalist who doesn’t follow things. From the beginning the two parties already indicated that they will be running their affairs separately. Their partnership is on presidential positions only. Did u ever heard them saying that they will be featuring one candidate during parliamentary elections? Or u were busy u cadet when they were selling their manifesto?
Amwene news sayenera kukhala maganizo anu ngati mutolakhani. Just to correct you, MCP and UTM are not one party. They are two separate parties. They have the liberty to strengthen their parties in whatever way.
In news we have opinion and if you watch CNN you can see that
The Biggest Party is DPP.. take it or leave it.. say whatever you want to lie to yourselves.. kaya mutukwana.. zanu zimenezo.. DPP
Biggest thieves too
Together but not united. We don’t have president in this country. All we have is a group of people who robbed Mutharika of his reign and stay clueless as far as government administration is concerned.
Muthalika has never won an election in Malawi and he knows it very well.in 2014 it’s Chakwera who won second was Joyce Banda but the Harry Kanjewe and his team rigged and hence he was given a job at admarc and then chief director at NIB later PS at homeland security.Agogo anuwo has never won .If he can bring him and will put him on a lie detector and he won’t pass.
Muchila, koma mochedwa
UTM – 4 MPs. MCP- 55 MPs. 2019 elections. 2020 MCP ……… [..i am still thinking of my cappuccino . .. ….]
Let them fight. It is part the maturing process of our democracy. Just as the Rerun was very painful to dpp, Malawi democracy was strenghened.
It doesnt matter who wins, its all Tonse and they are on the same side.
Apa palibe kusagwirzana sitifuna kupha chipani chanu wina kapena cha anzathu just because tilinaye mgwirizano, iyo ndi khaalidwe La udf ndi dpp. Zipanizo zathu zilindi ufulu kukopa anthu mwazokha.
Indeed the two are separate entities which led the formation of the Tonse Alliance to remove DPP from power. They also agreed to work together in running the Government. The position of their parties are intact as on the eve of the PPE 2019.
Totally disagree with your analysis. Win or lose, mcp is still and will remain mightier than Utm. Mcp real opponent is dpp, not utm. Utm as it currently stands is no different from udf or pp.
Ingokhalani pheee ma cadet, MCP and UTM will teach Malawians how to do issue based politics.
It is good that we have the Tonse alliance and that the parties within it have still maintained their individual entities.
This is good for our democracy because when it comes to electing MPs or councillors constituencies will have a wide range of candidates to choose from….
What is needed is that leaders of the two parties should civic educate their members to campaign only to sell their personal abilities and their development plan because MCP and UTM are running the same government using the same Tonse ideology. So no single party can castigate another on policy.
I know it will be difficult for some Malawians considering where we are coming from, where politics was about castigating each other……odziwa kutukwana kwambiriyo anthu kumawona ngati ndi amene ali ndi mfundo….Well sorry this is time for issue based politics, choose candidates on merit, how are they going to change your life …….
I disagree with you.