Atupele confirms political comeback interest
Former United Democratic Front (UDF) president Atupele Muluzi yesterday said he is ready to bounce back into active politics to serve Malawians.
He gave the hint during a rally to celebrate 30 years of UDF’s existence at Nyambadwe Primary School ground in Blantyre, about one year after announcing his retirement from active politics to focus on business.
Atupele’s position follows calls by some UDF members who are asking him to be the former governing party’s torchbearer in the 2025 presidential elections.
In an interview yesterday after addressing party followers at Nyambadwe Primary School Ground in Ndirande Township in Blantyre as part of the party’s 30th anniversary celebration, he said he has positively considered the calls by the party members and is ready to serve Malawians.
Atupele, who is son to UDF co-founder and the country’s first multiparty president Bakili Muluzi, said: “I want to make it clear, if the people want me to serve them, I am ready to serve them in whatever capacity they wish me to serve. We have heard from Blantyre and we need to go to other places to hear what other people have to say.
“I have to listen to the people. I have made it very clear that I am here to serve the people.”
Earlier during the rally, UDF regional governor for the South Dorothy Masinga said all UDF members in the Southern Region have agreed to endorse Atupele as the party’s torchbearer in the 2025 elections and that they will vote for him at the party’s convention.
“Last week, party members issued a petition asking honourable Atupele Muluzi to bounce back and be our leader. They say he has good leadership skills and experience. So, we have all agreed that Muluzi will be the party’s right candidate,” she said.
Her statement comes a week after some UDF members in Mangochi asked Atupele to rejoin the party and become the leader.
Before making his speech, he called for a minute of silence in honour of the people who died due to the impact of Tropical Cyclone Freddy in the country.
Atupele asked government to consider conducting mass national identity card registration, saying most Cyclone Freddy survivors lost their cards.
He also asked all former UDF members who left the party to rejoin UDF, saying this is the right time to join before the party returns to power after the 2025 elections.
Speaking during the rally, one of the campaigners of multiparty democracy and UDF founding member Zililo Chibambo, who was also the guest of honour, said the country’s current economic status is not what they fought for.
He urged the UDF leadership to carefully choose a political party to partner with as no single entity can amass the 50 percent-plus-one vote threshold in the presidential election.
Other notable faces at the rally include Haphman Makande and Peter Fachi who served the party in various positions. UDF acting president Lillian Patel was not present as she was reported to be in Scotland for parliamentary business.
