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Mwenefumbo wants Aford NEC to endorse UDF partnership

United Democratic Front (UDF) presidential running mate Frank Mwenifumbo has said he will sell his partnership with UDF to Alliance for Democracy (Aford) national executive committee (NEC) so that the committee endorses it.

Mwenifumbo was picked as running mate for Atupele Muluzi at a time Aford had already agreed partnership with UTM presidential candidate Saulos Chilima.

Mwenifumbo and Muluzi before submitting nomination papers

Mwenifumbo’s acceptance as running mate to Muluzi has not gone well with Aford members who recently disowned him despite that he is still contesting on Aford ticket in Karonga Central constituency.

Speaking in an interview on Monday, Mwenifumbo claimed the UDF partnership offers Aford much hope compared to the UTM partnership.

“Presidential race is beyond political boundaries. Running mate can come from anywhere and anyone can be picked. That I have been picked, Aford members should be proud that other parties are seeing potential in us. Two big parties want our support but it is now for us to scrutinise where we will benefit.

“So I want my fellow NEC members to understand that and  I will  sell the idea to NEC that they should support the UDF partnership because it is the only one that we have a big share and is binding,” said Mwenifumbo.

Mwenifumbo also claimed the UTM-Aford alliance does not exist as the parties have not signed any agreement.

But reacting to the matter, Aford president Enoch Chihana said the NEC already supported the UTM alliance and it cannot support the UDF pact.

“We wish him well where he has gone but he should not bring confusion because we don’t have time for him. He should not compare his partnership to that of Chakufwa Chihana because in the Chakufwa’s case it was the party that agreed and that is what we have done with UTM,” said Chihana.

Chihana and Mwenifumbo have not been close since the disputed convention last year where the two competed for the top job in the party.

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