UDF, PP attends DPP convention in Blantyre
The ruling People’s Party (PP) and opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) representatives have turned up to witness Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) convention where delegates have filled the Comesa Hall in Malawi’s commercial city of Blantyre where the party is expected to elect members of the National Governing Council later today.
This is DPP’s first convention since the party was founded in 2005 by late President Bingu wa Mutharika.
The party is holding the convention under the theme “Finding our Destiny.”
PP’s delegates are being led the party’s Publicity Secretary, Hophmally Makande while UDF is represented by its Secretary General, Kandi Padambo.
In an interview with Nyasa Times, Padambo said their presence at the DPP convention signifies UDF’s interest to maintain cordial relationship with other political parties in the country.
Padambo said in a democratic set-up, people co-exist despite having unrelated political views.
“Part of our agenda for change is to foster good relationship with other parties, and that is why our leaders never castigate anyone in our rallies. Might have contradicting views politically, but that does not turn us into foes. In democracy people do co-exist,” Padambo explained.
He then said it is the expectation of UDF and other political parties to see DPP conducting peaceful, credible and fair elections during the three-day convention currently taking place at Comesa Hall in Blantyre.
In a separate interview, PP’s Hophman Makande, said their presence at the convention was a return-favour after DPP officials also attended PP’s convention last year.
“PP is a democratic party; they have invited us, then why not attending? We invented them during our convention and they have done the same. Just know, we might belong to different parties, but we are friends,” he said.
And DPP’s convention chairperson, Nicholas Dausi said the presence of both PP and UDF signifies peace and co-existence among the political parties in the country.
Interim president Peter Mutharika will battle it out with aspirant Speaker of the Malawi National Assembly Henry Chimunthu Banda.
The winner of the presidential election automatically becomes the party’s presidential candidate in 2014 to challenge PP’s Joyce Banda whose camp has already lined up a string of campaign trail.
PP has also launched a stinging attack on the opposition, especially Peter and UDF candidate Atupele Muluzi.
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