United Democratic Front (UDF) president Atupele Muluzi says his party is open to go into an alliance with any like-minded party ahead of the September 16 General Election to resolve problems stifling development in the country.
His comments on the sidelines of a political rally at Bangwe Desert ground in Blantyre yesterday came barely days after he was pictured with Alliance for Democracy (Aford) president Enoch Chihana and his UTM Party counterpart Dalitso Kabambe.
“We will go into an alliance with any party so long as they align with our principles and policies of business first, getting rid of corruption and growing the economy,” said Atupele.
He said UDF will enter into an alliance with the aim of saving Malawi from problems such as shortage of foreign exchange, high cost of living and food insecurity.
The son to the first multiparty era president Bakili Muluzi said that the UDF wants to devise the right programmes and policies to attract investment and allow businesses to grow to stimulate the economy.
On his meeting with Kabambe and Chihana, Atupele said their discussion dwelt more on ensuring peace and that the elections are free and fair.
He said: “We have seen that there have been ugly scenes so we came together as leaders to talk because politics is not about violence, it is about issues.”
During yesterday’s rally, Atupele warned that the era of relying on foreign aid is gone and that countries such as Malawi need visionary leaders who are ready to focus on trade and investment.
UDF general secretary Genarino Lemani, party chairperson Lilian Patel, treasurer general Yowoyani Mponela and regional governor for the South Dorothy Masinga were some of the party officials who attended the rally.
In her remarks, Masinga said UDF supporters want a clean government and any alliance should involve politicians who have no record of corruption.
Meanwhile, UTM Party said it has started holding electoral coalition talks with UDF, Aford, People’s Party (PP) and other opposition parties in preparation for the September 16 General Election.
In an interview yesterday, UTM Party spokesperson Felix Njawala said the party believed that an alliance can work out despite UTM Party having had a bad experience in the governing Tonse Alliance.
He said the goal of the alliance is to strengthen the parties’ presence in the next elections and save Malawians from the current challenges.
Said Njawala: “There is a lot of anticipation, and anxiety on the political landscape because people are really looking forward to an entity that can transform this country and change their lives.”
He, however, declined to give more details, saying the talks are ongoing and that the major focus is not on who will be on the ballot.
However, Njawala said UTM was yet to discuss the issue witt the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
In a separate interview, UDF spokesperson Dyson Jangia said the party has been having electoral alliance discussions with several parties, adding it is not strange that leaders of UTM Party, UDF and Aford met.
He said: “We are looking for a trustworthy partner, somebody we can rely on. Not a partner who would eventually break what you agreed on. So, we will be looking at the track record, trustworthiness of whoever is there to partner with.”
On her part, Aford spokesperson Annie Amatullah Maluwa also confirmed the talks, but said Aford is talking to other parties in opposition and that Malawians will be informed of the outcome of the talks.
Meanwhile, political analyst George Chaima has said a combination of UTM Party, UDF, Aford and PP can make wonders if the parties strategise and make proper and binding agreements.
He said the leaders of the parties have different strengths that if put together will have a great impact.
Last week, the main opposition DPP secretary general Peter Mukhito said his party was in talks with several parties, including UTM Party, UDF, PP and Aford.
In the 2020 court-sanctioned fresh presidential election, UTM Party, PP and Aford partnered Malawi Congress Party to form the Tonse Alliance while the UDF teamed up with the DPP.
Malawi will go to the polls on September 16 2025 to elect a President, 229 members of Parliament and 509 ward councillors.
