Opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) says it will formally sign electoral partnership agreements with other political parties in Lilongwe tomorrow ahead of the September 16 General Election.
DPP vice-president (South) George Chaponda in an interview yesterday said the party has also succeeded in sealing an agreement with Alliance for Democracy (Aford) while negotiations continue with other parties.
“You will see more on Friday. We will have a signing agreement with parties, so let us wait until then to see all parties in this,” he said with optimism.
In a separate interview, Aford spokesperson Annie Maluwa said the party will brief the media today on its position, but an inside source confided in The Nation that the party had settled for DPP and Aford president Enock Chihana is earmarked for the position of Second Vice-President.
The development comes after DPP on Tuesday night announced conclusion of an agreement for a political alliance with the Northern Alliance Bloc.
In a statement, Chaponda, who is DPP’s lead negotiator and the bloc’s negotiator Victor Madhlopa, said the alliance is born out of a shared commitment to rescue Malawi from the deepening socio-economic crisis and leadership failure.
The Northern Bloc parties that have of late been holding rallies include Freedom Party (FP), Solidarity Alliance and National Democratic Party (NDP).
But political pundits said the former governing DPP needs stronger political parties with wider appeal such as UTM Party if they are to defeat the governing Malawi Congress Party during the polls.
Identity and electoral politics expert Ernest Thindwa in an interview said existing electoral data suggests that the Northern Bloc lacks notable electoral clout.
He said the most recent Afrobarometer data suggested that UTM Party was the third most popular after DPP and MCP.
Thindwa said while the poll, conducted in August 2024 barely a month after the death in a military plane crash of Vice-President Saulos Chilima who led UTM Party, projected the UTM vote share at seven percent, its popularity rankings likely remain unchanged.
He said: “Any party between DPP and MCP that can succeed in negotiating an electoral alliance with UTM may increase prospects of winning the presidential election.
“The existing relationship between UTM and MCP suggests an electoral alliance between the two parties is less feasible. Not many parties have the electoral clout to add substantive value to an electoral alliance beyond a psychological boost.”
Political Science Association spokesperson Mabvuto Bamusi cautioned parties against forming alliances only for reasons of removing MCP out of power.
“The alliance should aim at taking over government for reasons of advancing developmental agenda, ending economic challenges, and moving people out of poverty. In the present case, UTM is an important political actor,” he said.
On his part, political pundit Wonderful Mkhutche said parties in the Northern Alliance Bloc will add no value to DPP, arguing, there is only political quantity and not political quality.
“UTM is the biggest party outside of DPP and MCP. Any alliance without UTM is as good as no alliance. The alliance between DPP and the Northern Alliance Bloc is a threat to MCP only to the extent of DPP’s threat to MCP,” he said.
Malawi heads to the polls on September 16 2025 when people will be expected to elect a President, members of Parliament and ward councillors.
