UDF condemns PP’s one-party remarks

The opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) has said it is dismayed with remarks by the ruling People’s Party (PP) that Malawi is better off going back to a one- party State.

PP secretary general Henry Chibwana said on Monday that it would not be a problem for the country to go back to a one-party State as long as President Joyce Banda delivers on development.

But PP’s publicity office issued a statement on Tuesday, distancing the party from remarks Chibwana uttered, arguing those were his personal views and not the party’s position.

The UDF, in a statement issued on Tuesday by publicity secretary Ken Ndanga, said for whatever reasons there might be, the party believes it was unthinkable for any political organisation to insinuate or suggest a one-party State in Malawi.

The statement reads: “For a very long time, Malawians were subjected to atrocities of varied magnitudes during the one-party State and reverting to that system is the last thing any reasonable politician would suggest.

“The UDF party is particularly concerned that the statement is coming from a no lesser personality than the whole secretary general of a governing party which is unfortunate.”

UDF feared the statement is a plot by PP to kill the hard-earned democracy in Malawi.

For those that were not there during the one-party State, reintroducing a single party system in Malawi will mean declaring all political gains the country has achieved in the last 20 years of multiparty democracy redundant.

But the ruling PP, in a statement signed by its deputy publicity secretary Ken Msonda, said President Banda has never nursed such an idea and the remarks should be regarded as Chibwana’s personal views.