Presidential nomination papers collected so far show an interesting trend where candidates hitherto considered to be working on electoral alliances have ended up collecting individual papers.
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) records show that by close of business yesterday, 11 presidential aspirants had collected nomination papers either as political party representatives or independent candidates.
The list has three independent candidates Milward Tobias, Adil James Chilungo and Revelend Hardwick Kaliya.
On the other hand, those representing political parties are incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Kondwani Nankhumwa of People’s Development Party (PDP), Atupele Muluzi of United Democratic Front (UDF), UTM Party leader Dalitso Kabambe, former president and People’s Party (PP) leader Joyce Banda, Anyamata, Atsikana, Azimayi president Akwame Bandawe, former president Peter Mutharika of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and National Development Party (NDP) president Frank Tumpale Mwenifumbo.
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The developments come after PP and PDP indicated in April this year that they would form an alliance along with Freedom Party (FP), People’s Transformation Party (Petra), and Malawi Forum for Unity and Development (Mafunde).
However, both Banda and Nankhumwa have collected nomination papers.
UTM Party is also on record as being in alliance talks with UDF and Alliance for Democracy (Aford), but both UTM Party president Kabambe and his UDF counterpart Atupele have collected nomination papers.
When asked if the developments mean that alliance plans have collapsed, PP secretary general Ben Chakhame yesterday said the party will meet its partners this weekend to discuss the alliance.
“It would only be proper to comment on the matter after the meeting,” he said.
In a separate interview, PDP spokesperson Rhodes Msonkho said talks with potential alliance partners were still in progress and that the candidates were only playing it safe in case the negotiations take longer.
He said since a torchbearer is yet to be identified, candidates are collecting nomination papers to ensure that they are ready when it is time to choose the torch bearer.
Said Msonkho: “The nomination process is involving because you need to get signatures from across the country. So, what will happen if partners choose someone who has not collected the nomination papers and has not got around to get signatures?
“That is why candidates from alliance partners are getting papers [individually]. If it happens that a person is chosen, then one will withdraw.”
On his part, UDF spokesperson Dyson Jangiya said they have not signed an alliance deal yet; hence, the individual collection of nomination forms by candidates.
However, he said UDF has not closed the door on negotiations, adding that in the event that a deal is struck, some will withdraw their candidatures. He could not say who is likely to lead.
“There is still time before the close of the period for the presentation of nomination papers. But if the presentation is done then the door will be closing. We cannot force things,” said Jangiya.
Speaking during a candlelight memorial for fallen vice-president Saulos Chilima at Nthungwa in Viphya Plantation on Tuesday, Kabambe said talks between UTM Party and other parties were still progressing despite that he had collected nomination papers.
Meanwhile, political analyst Chrispin Mphande has cautioned that having more presidential contenders will make it hard for the parties to achieve a 50+1 threshhold to win the presidency as interpreted by the High Court of Malawi sitting as the Constitutional Court in 2020 and upheld by the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal.
In an interview yesterday, he cast doubt if alliances will work at this point, saying people appear to be fronting personal interests.
Said Mphande: “Having too many candidates reflects greed on the part of political leaders.
“Leaders should demonstrate that they are there to serve, not for their own personal good, but for the good of the nation. Whatever is happening here has nothing to do with serving the nation.”
So far, Banda is the only female presidential candidate. She served as Malawi’s first female president for two years from 2012, after the death of president Bingu wa Mutharika. She lost to DPP’s Peter Mutharika in the 2014 presidential ballot.
In the 2020 presidential election rerun, nine political parties teamed up to form the Tonse Alliance and won the court-sanctioned fresh presidential elections with Chakwera on the ticket and Chilima as his running mate.
