JB, Chihana meet
People’s Party (PP) president Joyce Banda paid her Alliance for Democracy (Aford) counterpart Enoch Chihana a visit on Friday, a move some quarters have said was aimed at renewing an electoral alliance.
PP and Aford had a working alliance prior to the 2014 Tripartite Elections.
But reacting to the matter yesterday, Chihana, while confirming the meeting, dismissed the possibility of an electoral alliance.
He said Banda only made a casual visit and there was nothing strange about it as people pay each other visits.
Said Chihana: “That is true, she came to see me at my house on her way from Bolero where she went to console the acting Chikulamayembe. It was a normal visit. No crucial issues were discussed. It was a casual discussion.”
Asked if the previous alliance is still binding, Chihana said the working relationship was for the 2014 elections.
The Aford president also distanced himself from a memo circulating on social media portraying that Chihana had settled for PP for an alliance and had made several demands, including business contracts.
“That is fake and cheap propaganda my brother. The document has no letter head or signature,” he said.
Turning to his party’s preparations for the May elections, Chihana said the Aford National Executive Committee (NEC) will meet soon to discuss how the party should approach the polls.
On his part, PP spokesperson Ackson Kalaile Banda also confirmed the visit, but said there was nothing strange about it.
He said the party president, who is also the country’s immediate former president, decided to pay Chihana a normal visit on her way from Bolero.
Said Kalaile Banda: “I cannot comment on electoral alliance unless the party’ NEC has met. NEC is meeting tomorrow where such issues will be discussed.”
With the May 21 Tripartite Elections approaching, leaders of major political parties are seeking ways to maximise their chances of winning.
So far, only a group of nine parties not represented in Parliament have formed a coalition called Tikonze People’s Movement, led by former vice-president Cassim Chilumpha.
