Chairperson of the UTM Presidential Council, Newton Kambala, has urged leaders of both the UTM and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to heed their supporters’ growing demands for a pre-election alliance before the September 16 General Elections.
According to Kambala, grassroots supporters from both parties have demonstrated readiness to collaborate.
He added that it is now incumbent upon the leadership of the two parties to respect the wishes.
Kambala made the call yesterday during a joint press briefing in Lilongwe where the vice-presidents for the Central Region of both parties announced a formal agreement to cooperate and secure the opposition vote across the region.
Said Kambala: “There is power in unity. Supporters in opposition want to work together. These supporters want more, they want to see change. Let’s do what Malawians want.”
He further suggested that some individuals within the current MCP-led government also desire change and are not enemies of the opposition, claiming that they would vote for opposition presidential candidates.
During the briefing, DPP vice-president for the Central Region, Alfred Gangata, and UTM Party’s VP for the Centre Hellen Chabunya, declared that they will unite and work together, including monitoring of election results and defending each other’s supporters against any physical attacks or intimidation.
In his remarks, Gangata echoed the alliance demand, saying that he is aware of Malawians’ desire for a UTM-DPP pact.
He, however, stressed that realising such an alliance rests solely on the leadership of both parties to rescue Malawians from suffering.
According to Gangata, the opposition parties have one main enemy and that is the Malawi Congress Party.
He confirmed that the DPP and UTM would cooperate strategically, even in constituencies where one party lacks a candidate, to prevent the ruling MCP from manipulating the vote.
On her part, Chabunya condemned the alleged intimidation of opposition members and the removal of party flags in the Central Region saying it is shameful.
She warned opposition supporters engaged in such acts saying the law would catch up with offenders after the polls.
Chabunya also questioned the police’s inaction despite formal complaints.
Said Chabunya: “Why haven’t the police taken action and arrested those involved? Let’s be alert and wise so that no vote is stolen. Central Region is for everyone. We can’t [be] hacking and threatening each other in 2025. Let people campaign freely, let there be tolerance.”
She also called upon the Malawi Electoral Commission to execute its duties impartially, adding that supporters of all parties are Malawians who deserve equal treatment regardless of political affiliation.
In a related development, People’s Progressive Movement president Mark Katsonga announced at a press briefing in Lilongwe yesterday that his party has endorsed UPM Party president Dalitso Kabambe’s candidacy because the two parties’ manifestos are speaking the same language.
“Both parties believe in economic revolution and rural industrialisation, which are vital for Malawi’s development,” said Katsonga.
