Atupele, Chapola not related—UDF

United Democratic Front (UDF) has refuted allegations that the party’s president Atupele Muluzi and his running mate in the 20 May tripartite elections, Dr Godfrey Chapola, are related by blood.

Muluzi became the first presidential candidate to unveil his running mate last Saturday, but following the announcement, the social media has been awash with allegations that Chapola is a cousin to Muluzi’s mother, Annie Muluzi, who hails from Malingunde in Lilongwe.

But UDF spokesperson Ken Ndanga told Weekend Nation in an interview that the allegations are baseless as the two are not blood-related.

“What is being spread on social media that honourable Atupele Muluzi and Dr Godfrey Chapola are related by blood and that the latter is an uncle to the former is not true. This is not even close to the truth because even a distant relationship does not exist between them.

“People are just scared with the success story of UDF because of the support we have that will enable us triumph in the coming elections. Many politicians are afraid of Muluzi and Chapola because it is a winning pair,” said Ndanga.

Ndanga said if there is a relationship between Muluzi and Chapola, “it is that the two belong to the UDF family”.

“Our president [Muluzi] chose Dr Chapola because he is the man of integrity and he shares same vision with Muluzi, so the two can complement well to develop this country and rescue citizens from problems they are facing,” said Ndanga.