UDF has no president, says Secretary-General
Malawi’s former ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) says it has no president and intents to fill the position at the convention to be held later this year, escalating feuding with acting party president Friday Jumbe.
Jumbe was made interim leader when former Head of State and UDF national chairman Bakili Muluzi retired from front line politics in December 2009.
But UDF secretary-general Kennedy Makwangwala said on Wednesday that “there are some members in the party claiming to hold positions that do not exist in the party hierarchy as per constitution.”
He said UDF does not have the position of President in the party.
“Any person calling himself president or vice president should not be allowed to transact business in the name of the party and the party will not be held responsible for business transacted by such individuals,” said Makwangwala in a statement made available to Nyasa Times.
He informed that currently the positions of National Chairman, 1st Vice National Chairman and 2nd Vice National Chairman are still vacant and that the National Executive Committee agreed to fill these positions at the National Conference.
He advised UDFs membership, supporters and stakeholders to ignore an individual masquerading as National Chairman, 1st Vice National Chairman and 2nd Vice National Chairman.
“As a party the UDF believes in constitutionalism and orderliness and as such will not allow any of its members to destroy these virtues in the party,” he said.
Makwangwala said the UDF constitution can only be amended by the National Conference and not any other forum.
The statement also cleared that Makwangwala is not on suspension as announced by the Jumbe faction.
It explained that “the purported suspension” was nullified by the court.
“As such continuous reference on the Secretary General as being on suspension is irresponsible, misleading and tantamount to contempt of court,” said the statement.
But Jumbe speaking on Capital FM said the party feuding will not help anyone as it will end up being a “lose-lose” situation.
“Makwangwala camp will not win, Jumbe camp will not win. We shall all completely drown. We will not all succeed,” he said.
He said Makwangwala was promoting the presidential bid of lawmaker Atupele Muluzi, which he said has the backing of his father, the former president.
Jumbe said the “monister” behind the devision should “understand thet divided we will not win.”
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
