Officials from the Alliance for Democracy (Aford) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday defended their newly formed electoral alliance, describing it as a strategic move aimed at serving the best interests of Malawians.
Speaking at a joint press briefing at the DPP headquarters in Naperi, Blantyre, the parties said the alliance was forged in response to the mounting challenges citizens face under the current administration. They emphasized that the decision was not out of convenience, but born out of shared values and overlapping policy goals.
The press conference came ahead of a joint rally scheduled for today at Njamba Freedom Park.
Earlier in the day, the parties are expected to unveil their manifesto at Sunbird Mount Soche, an event expected to draw business leaders, academics, and civil society representatives.
The officials said the electoral alliance of the two political parties was also compelled by their manifestos which have a lot in common to alleviate Malawians’ suffering.
DPP national organising secretary Sameer Suleman, who chaired the press briefing, said their alliance did not prioritise personal interests such as leaders being offered some key positions.
He said: “This alliance did not look at the interests of individuals but it looked at what is in the manifestos of the two political parties. When we looked at the manifestos, we observed that it resonates well with aspirations of addressing Malawians’ suffering.”
Suleman said upon the two political parties agreeing to form an alliance, they decided to merge the manifestos into one that gives solutions to challenges that Malawians are enduring.
But he said they will use the DPP manifesto, which its leader Peter Mutharika will endorse today, as it incorporates key issues in the Aford manifesto.
“This manifesto that will be launched today brings hope to Malawians and not those that have already been launched which sound like poetry. This is a well-researched manifesto, well-worked out and it gives solutions,” said Suleman.
He, however, said they are open to entering into alliances with other political parties who might still be interested; hence, their alliance is not only limited to Aford.
Suleman further said the party is also expected to receive other politicians into their fold today.
Aford deputy secretary general (operations) Chris Michael Thaulo said the party is convinced with the alliance with DPP.
He said, contrary to assertions that it centres around its president Enock Chihana, Aford’s national executive committee (NEC) endorsed the alliance.
Said Thaulo: “Aford NEC met
on July 22 2025 at Golden Peacock Hotel in Lilongwe where it resolved that we can enter into an alliance with any other opposition political party. But this did not mean we could not go it alone because Aford has the capability to go solo,” he said.
“But the NEC agreed that we can partner any political party in opposition and not the Malawi Congress Party. When we considered partnering with DPP, we noted that we share similar ideologies, mainly to strengthen democracy and uplift Malawians’ livelihoods. So, in this alliance, Aford is not a puppet nor is it a stooge.”
He said if Aford NEC was not going to agree at the July 22 2025 meeting to partner with any opposition political party, the party would have commenced campaigning solo ahead of the September 16 2025 General Election.
Thaulo further hailed the Aford-DPP alliance, saying it is the only electoral partnership that can save Malawians from their misfortunes.
DPP director of women Mary Navicha said Malawians should have hope in the alliance.
She said: “We will unveil a manifesto that gives hope to Malawians. This alliance between Aford and DPP will ensure that Malawians should revert back to the good old days when they were able to afford basic necessities.”
According to Navicha, Mutharika is expected to join a parade from Kamuzu Upper Stadium to Njamba Freedom Park where the joint rally will be held.
Responding to a question on whether Mutharika will join the parade on foot, she said Malawians will see for themselves how the DPP leader will be able to be part of the parade.
But Navicha said for Mutharika’s own safety, it would be important that he does not walk on foot during the parade.
She said: “But be rest assured that Mutharika will join the parade, whether using a helicopter or open vehicle.”
On July 25 2025, Aford vice-president responsible for operations Timothy Mtambo publicly distanced himself from his party’s electoral alliance with the immediate- past former governing party.
Mtambo, who is leader of the Citizens Transformation Movement—a political pressure group, told the press in Lilongwe that he cannot work with the DPP, saying it would be illogical for him to do so since he campaigned against them in 2020 ahead of the court-sanctioned fresh presidential election.
He said the DPP has not changed, and further blamed Chihana for abandoning their shared mission to bring real change to Malawi
