UDF not part of ‘briefcase parties’ coalition-Makwangwala
United Democratic Front (UDF) has distanced itself from the coalition of opposition parties – mostly file or briefcase parties – that will field one presidential candidate.
At least 15 parties are in agreement to form a ‘grand’ coalition and field one presidential candidate against Malawi’s ruling DPP in 2014 elections.
UDF Secretary General Kennedy Makwangwala has put it plain that his party is ‘not’ part of the coalition unless the convention decides otherwise.
- Makwangwala: UDF convention will decide
“As UDF we are not part of that coalition and there was no time we met as a party and greed to be an affiliate to such grouping,” Makwangwala explained.
He further stressed that the issue of joining the coalition or not will be decided at the party convention scheduled to take place late this year or early 2013.
“I think people should wait until we hold a convention in which the party’s supporters and the executive will decide whether it’s worth joining it or not. Until then we are not part of that coalition,” he said.
Members of the Friday Jumbe faction of UDF are however in the coalition. But Makwangwala said they were renegade members, saying the mainstream UDF party has not consulted its members yet.
The leading opposition party MCP has since expressed doubts with the coalition. MCP President John Tembo expressed fears that the grouping may be infested with sell-outs.
Meanwhile, the interim Chairperson of the coalition Kamuzu Chibambo has urged UDF to start making preparatory meetings on the issue without waiting for the convention.
He however revealed that the decision made by UDF to wait for the convention is highly respected.
There has been mixed reactions to the formation of the coalition with many people arguing it has no much support to win the elections while others argue it’s a grouping of fortune seekers who have nothing to offer to the nation.
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