DPP Seals Alliance With UDF

Mutharika (right) and Muluzi exchanging caps during the announcement of the alliance Mutharika (right) and Muluzi exchanging caps during the announcement of the alliance - file photo

The governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has formally sealed an electoral alliance with the United Democratic Front (UDF) ahead of May 19, 2020 presidential elections.

DPP President, Peter Mutharika, and his UDF counterpart, Atupele Muluzi, say the two parties have common goals.

They said this in Lilongwe on Tuesday during a media briefing.

“If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together. We must now work hard to reach out to all voters for the benefit of all Malawians,” Muluzi said.

In his short remarks, Mutharika said both parties share common values and are democratic oriented.

First to announce the alliance formation was the DPP Secretary General, Grezeldar Jeffrey, who said that “UDF is the mother of the DPP. We all love peace and we don’t want Malawians to suffer,” she said.

Jeffrey said the two parties have agreed to work together to protect and revamp business people.

“This is what we have agreed to do. We are hopeful to prosper this nation and we believe God will be with us,” she said.

UDF Publicity Secretary, Ken Ndanga, confirmed that “from now on, the two parties are working together. We are also working on forming the coalition.

“We do not believe in violence as it is a threat to democracy that Malawians painfully fought for. Violence is a symbol of intolerance. Our union is born out of spirit of uniting for matters that affect Malawians.”

Ndanga said that the alliance is a will of the people and what members of the two parties and most Malawians have always wanted.

“We share common values of peace loving in search of a democratic progressive united Malawi.

“We say no to reduce Malawians to lawlessness and chaos. We pledge to empower youth and women with skills to create own business and wealth. We reaffirm to create new wealth for all to reduce poverty,” he said.

During the event, UDF Vice President, Lilian Patel, and DPP Secretary General, Grezeldar Jeffrey, signed the alliance agreement and exchanged party regalia to symbolize the union.

More details in the alliance are yet to be known as it is as well not known who will Mutharika pick as his running mate during the forthcoming presidential election.

Former President, Bingu wa Mutharika, ditched UDF, a party that ushered him into presidency in 2009 and formed the DPP; consequently pushing the UDF into opposition.

Mutharika was handpicked for the UDF candidacy by the then UDF president, Bakili Muluzi, father to the incumbent UDF president, Atupele.

Mutharika ruled the country till his death in 2012 after serving two years of his second term before his vice president, Joyce Banda, took over the mantle and completed the five year term under her People’s Party; consequently forcing the then governing DPP to opposition.

The incumbent president, Peter Mutharika, led the dethroned DPP back into presidency in 2014 after winning the elections.

During his five term in office, Mutharika maintained Atupele Muluzi as his minister of health and parted ways as each one of them contested for presidency on May 21, 2019 tripartite elections.

Malawians will on May 19, 2020 go to polls to elect president after a Constitutional Court nullified the May 21, 2019 presidential elections and ordered a fresh election.

The court ordered the president to be elected will be required to amass a 50+1 majority vote to gain legitimacy, setting aside the first-past-the-post electoral system the country has been using.

Political commentators advised parties soon after the nullification of the elections to form alliances as a means to amass the 50+1 majority vote.

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Last modified on Tuesday, 25/02/2020

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