UDF justifies move to ‘enhance working relationship’ with DPP

The opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) has justified its move to seek relocation to government benches in Parliament, saying it is meant to cement the governing pact with Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

UDF secretary general Kandi Padambo wrote Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya, asking him to move its legislators to the government side in the House.

The Speaker is yet to made a decision as he is consulting on legal implications.

It is reported that “Indecision, uncertainty, division and fear have gripped” UDF over the matter.

The Nation, a local daily, claimed in its report on Friday that it carried a survey among UDF’s 13 MPs on their position, disclosing that two said they have no problems moving, one gave an outright ‘No’, three were undecided and five said they would follow the party’s position.

The paper quoted the MPs anonymously.

UDF spokesperson Ken Ndanga said the decision to relocate party MPs was done to enhance the working relationship with Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Ndanga said no UDF MP has complained or objected to the move through party secretariat or parliamentary leadership of the party.

UDF leader in parliament Lucius Banda and chief whip Lilian Patel said the party move has the blessing of the parliamentary membership.

Ndanga said UDF has been consulting members on their moves but pointed out that: “It is not feasible and practical to consult each and every party member because they are many.”

An associate professor of political science at the University of Malawi’s Chancellor College in Zomba, Blessings Chinsinga, observed that when political parties decide on something without consultation, “it shows that democracy is lacking within the party.”

He said such a trend “needs to be checked.”