University of Malawi political analysts differ on UDF future: Thindwa says’problematic’ as Hussein brands Atupele ‘democratic’
Political analysts from Chancellor College of the University of Malawi have offered different opinions on the future of United Democratic Front (UDF) following misty relationship with the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) ahead of the 2019 Tripartite Elections.
Muluzi, who is Minister of Health and Population Services in President Peter Mutharika’s Cabinet, said UDF being a sovereign party, a convention would soon be called for members to decide in terms of the direction to take and as a leader he could not dictate.
He argued that an electoral alliance was a process; hence, there were certain stages to take into account before a resolution is made on whether to contest the elections individually or go into partnership.
Muluzi’s stand on the matter is backed by political professor at Chancellor College, Mustapha Hussein, saying the UDF leader is showing that he is following a democractic process of ensuring the decision to continue with the working relationship based on input of party members at the right forum as a convention.
Hussein said Muluzi is “trying to democratise” the party’s political future by ensuring that UDF party members have a say on the direction it would take.
He said the approach is “commendable” and would strengthen infra-party democracy.
But in comments quoted in the local newspaper, a political science professor at Chancellor College, Ernest Thindwa says UDF has a “problematic future.’
Thindwa says the best Atupele can get in electoral alliance with DPP would be a running mate which would mean President Peter Mutharika dumping Vice President Saulos Chilima.
UDF and DPP became bedfellows soon after the May 20 2014 Tripartite Elections after Mutharika drafted Muluzi into his first Cabinet. Muluzi has been maintained since then.
Muluzi, whose father Bakili Muluzi ruled the country between 1994 and 2004 as the first post-independence multi-party Head of State, said the world was changing and it was high time Malawian politicians started practising civilised politics
Wait for time to field candidates. What it may mean is that where UDF is strong DPP will not field candidate..vice versatz or where there is a sitting candidate…ok that will not work in town where chances are 50 50 then chipasupasu chayambika ….. ….
Mabvuto akutumayo akuphwetekesa, tamuuzenei alembe yekha mukulephera kulemba chizungu apa.
Guys, zikungoonetsa ma comments anuwa—enanu ndi mbuli heavy; Mr. Hussein is in line with his duties and I agree with him,
why?
Political parties can establish collaboration agreements on a wide variety of issues, including; joint participation in elections, joint government formation after the elections, offering external support to an existing government joining forces with several parties to overturn another party, to modify elements of the political system or to jointly determine specific policies. In this framework, it is interesting to examine the features of political alliances in view of an electoral process. Alliances between parties can take very different forms and degrees.
First of all, political parties can form coalitions, whose lists include candidates from each political party or are independent, identifying themselves as a coalition and no longer representing themselves independently in the constituencies affected by the coalition.
Another option is to alternatively submit lists of either of the parties in each constituency, in order to optimize the expected electoral support for each party. This is common practice in mature party systems, thus ensuring maximum effectiveness of their campaigns and prevention of the negative effects of vote dispersion on themselves or on the parties from which they can expect certain support or co-operation.
Mukuganiza kuti leroli UDF itha kuwina popanda chipani china choithandiza?
kapena mukufuna Atupele adzafele kutsutsa moyo wake onse?
mukuona ngati iye uja ndi mbuli ngati nkhalamba zakhala zikutsutsa kwa 25yrs popanda kuchita kanthuzi??
DPP is only promised step for UDF kuti adzatenge boma coz mukumvetsa kwanga, Mutharika sangatenge njonda zamuzungulira zija kuti zidzatsogolere 2024 coz akudziwa kuti atha kumuukira plus sasunga lonjezo. Peter akudziwa kuti Atupele alibe ndale za mpeni kumphasa, amasunga lonjezo and inunso mukudziwa zimenezi kuti atupele sali ngati Che Muluzi omwe amkapanga ndale za sekelera mkumeze, just looking at how he has been moved from one ministry to another, believe me, mwana uyu adzakhala next President even before who you call “Chatsika”
koma poti mitu yanu ndi yofumbwa, simungakhulupilire zimenezi until mudzachite kuona ndi maso anu – Ow Yes!
Mabvuto sitikumvatu ife, tangoyankhulani chichewa samaletsatu pano kulemba chichewa, mwatumidwa kuti bwanji malume.
Kofi away mumati ma analysits, how special are they? Apart from saying their own personal opinions? I wonder we in many cases made to think in a way a particular singled analyst has said on his or her own just becoz iyeyo ndi lecturer somewher here most especially chanco. Anthuwa amalankhula zomwe Iwo akuganiza and its not reflecting the thinking of all the people. Now u see two respected analysts and intellectuals polarising on the same issue of ATUPELE and the UDF. If there is a cardinal theory governing this situation then these two intellectuals cudnt differ in any way. They speak their minds simply as am speaking mine. So don’t call these people analysts but opinionists!
They are analysts because they give expatriate views on the subject matter, which falls within their field of expertise.
Kkkkkkkkk, eti DPP boma…. kkkkkkkk….. even if I am a std 1 drop out, I can never again vote for these thieves. Kkkkkkk……
I beg to differ, That’s not being democratic. Atupele is just but being scared of the approaching elections and wants to reposition himself and his father. He is not necessarily concerned with the larger UDF members, rather he is just trying to save his face.
If Atupele was democratic he would have done this before he even went into a marriage with DPP. All his feet are securely in the DPP/UDF marriage of convenience.
Why play the chameleon?
But why did PAC choose to meet MCP alone in hiding to discuss 2019 elections instead of inviting all parties? Kodi pa half-time, a referee amakalowa ku dressing room kwa team inayo? How can the other team react to such a biased referee? PAC must trade carefully as we advance towards general elections. PAC must not create false hopes to chakwera because it shall be difficult for him (Chakwera ) to accept defeat come 2019. Wamisalatu anawona nkhondo. PAC can do better on their role of being a referee.
However, DPP, 2019 BOOOOOMA!
Atupele has just demonstrated maturity in politics, we need such people to transform this country, ifetu sitidya ndale we need a lot of things in our day to day life so its bad for politicians to keep on fight all times, this is not campaign hence politicians should dwell the effort in building our nation not pulling it down. Atupele is not commenting anything to do with alliance with DPP because he’s a democrat, he’s not a sole decision maker in UDF so he’s letting the decision to come from NEC members after next convention and after proper consultation from the mass who are the owners of the party as he always preach. Is that not democratic way of doing things?, so please! please! don’t force him to comment or make a sole decision on this alliance issue. Viva Atu, Viva UDF, the future is so bright for UDF and that is a fact.
This Hussein guy,though professor. but so dull ,how can be atupele Democratic to day while the time he joined DDP he didn’t consulted his supporters,Atupele knows that time is against him ,he wants to leave DPP through convention
“Trying to democratize” at this point/time is, to my analytical expertise, in support of a “problematic future” indeed: Thindwa’s analysis holds.