Mwenifumbo faction for one Aford

An Alliance for Democracy (Aford) faction led by Frank Mwenifumbo has urged the Enoch Chihana camp to join them to make Aford strong.

Mwenifumbo challenged Chihana at the party’s national convention which ended in a stalemate in Lilongwe.

Speaking on Thursday at Mwenifumbo’s residence in Blantyre where the faction welcomed back Martha Chiume, who had quit the party to protest what she called Chihana’s poor leadership, among others.

During the ceremony, leaders who claimed they were elected at the controversial convention emphasised that the Mwenefumbo-led faction is the genuine Aford because the delegates who elected the office-bearers were ‘genuine Aford members’.

In her remarks, Chiume condemned the infighting, divisions and fraca that marred the convention in Lilongwe, saying Aford is not used to ‘violence’.

“Aford is not known for violence. It has been a peaceful party through the years. So, where are we getting the spirit of wielding pangas against each other?

“This is not time to fight. It is time to rebuild the party so it can reclaim its former glory. When we started Aford in 1992, we wanted people in the country to live peacefully under a democratic dispensation. So, why are we, the pioneers of political change, resorting to violence to solve our differences,” she asked.

Speaking after the ceremony, Aford member Gulani Guta said he was happy to welcome Chiume to the party, claiming many more were on their way back into the fold.

“The idea is to pull back everyone into the party to fight as a common front. Chiume will retain her position as Aford first vice-president because this position was not filled during the convention,” said Guta.

At the event, Aford members from Mchinji, Kasungu, Nsanje and other districts were present.

Divisions in Aford escalated after both Mwenifumbo and Chihana claimed to have been elected presidents during two separate conventions in Lilongwe.

Both factions claim legitimacy of the party leadership.