UDF to clarify position, way forward—Atupele

United Democratic Front (UDF) president Atupele Muluzi says his party will  soon come in the open on its position and future.

Muluzi, who is also Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, said this on Friday at Parliament in Lilongwe when journalists pressed him to clarify issues following the movement of his party’s members of Parliament (MPs) to government side in the House and the insistence of the party’s leader in Parliament Lucius Banda to remain on the opposition side.

“[UDF publicity secretary] Mr [Ken] Ndanga is preparing a statement and we will be holding a press briefing very soon on the matter,” said Muluzi  who refused to be dragged into commenting on the matter further.

UDF parliamentarians’ movement to the government side in the House with its leader still on opposition benches has attracted a lot of comments within and outside the House.

Banda, who is Balaka North MP, wrote Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya earlier last week that he would maintain his seat on the opposition side while still maintaining his role as leader of UDF in the House.

Banda said he would continue to support government as he had done before regardless of where he sits in Parliament.

UDF has 11 MPs seated on the government side, which has increased DPP’s numerical strength in the 193-member National Assembly to 63, excluding Banda, Muluzi and Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament Clement Chiwaya who are UDF but not affected by the move.

Following the relocation, UDF on Thursday woke up to the reality of its decision by discovering that it has no voice and identity in Parliament.

For example, UDF was not on the schedule of opposition political parties to respond to the State of the Nation Address which President Peter Mutharika delivered on Tuesday because 11 of its MPs are now sitting on the government side.

Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) MPs questioned the decision by the   Speaker to include Lillian Patel as UDF chief whip in the business committee when the party will no longer have a leader or representation in the House.

The Speaker was apparently unprepared for the questions which followed his decision that Patel would remain in the business committee.

He promised to consult with the business committee on the way forward and report back to the House as soon as he was able.

—Reporting by Malawi News Agency, background and context by The Nation