Aford to go it alone
Alliance for Democracy (Aford) president Enock Chihana says his party will not go into any electoral alliance during the 2025 Tripartite Elections because he is tired of playing second fiddle to disappointing leaders.
Speaking yesterday at Nyambadwe Primary School ground in Blantyre, he said Aford did not only help to bring democracy into the country in 1993, but has also for 30 years helped other political parties to get into government, but they have all failed Malawians.
Chihana, whose father the late Tom Chakufwa Chihana was Aford’s founding president, said Aford would no longer tolerate contesting elections “under the armpit” of other political party.
He said: “We had UDF [United democratic Front] for 10 years, DPP [Democratic Progressive Party], PP [People’s Party] and then DPP again. Did they develop this country?
“Now we have brought back MCP [Malawi Congress Party] and we can all testify what is actually happening. Malawians are tired of the ambitious, but unfulfilled promises so I urge you to give Aford an opportunity to govern this country because we have tried all these other parties.”
Chihana also reiterated his call for the country to adopt federal system of government, arguing the current system has been a blockade to development.
He has since challenged President Lazarus Chakwera to allow the Malawi Law Commission to review the issue before calling for a constitutional conference to debate the issue and then referendum so that every Malawian’s voice is heard.
The Aford leader also distanced himself from the Tonse Alliance administration, saying in as far as government was concerned he had never been part the administration.
However, his statement contradicted what his secretary general Wakuda Kamanga said earlier during the rally that the party was still part of the governing alliance until such a time when it will officially communicate to fellow partners.
But commenting on Chihana’s statement, political analyst Victor Chipofya Jnr said it was surprising for the Aford leader to claim he had not been part of the Tonse Alliance now after three years of working together.
Aford came in the political limelight in 1993 and its founder the late Chakufwa Chihana is known as one of the key fighters for multiparty democracy in Malawi.
