The United Democratic Front, UDF has strongly denied claims that it has formed an electoral alliance with the ruling Malawi Congress Party, MCP ahead of the highly anticipated 2025 general elections.
Speaking at a political rally over the weekend in Bangwe Township, Blantyre, UDF Southern Region Governor, Dorothy Mwasinga, dismissed the speculations on alliance as baseless and called the developments as basically, politically motivated agendas.
“We want to make it clear that the UDF has not entered into any alliance with the MCP or any other political party in the country,” Mwasinga declared the party position to the cheering crowd. “These are lies and propaganda that’s been spread by our political rivals to confuse Malawians and weaken our support and position.” Mwasinga expressed her disappointments to the rumors
The rumours gained momentum after a photo circulated on social media showing UDF President, Atupele Muluzi in the company of MCP leader and current Malawi President, His Excellency, Dr. Lazarus MacCarthy Chakwera.
The image fuelled speculations about a potential political partnership between the two parties which were once bitter rivals during the early years of 1990s at the beginning of multiparty democracy in Malawi.
However, Mwasinga clarified that the photo was taken during a national event attended by various leaders and insisted that it should not be misconstrued as an evidence of possible alliance between UDF and MCP.
“We are focused on strengthening our party structures and preparing for the elections, currently. Atupele Muluzi remains committed to the vision and independence of the UDF,” Mwasinga added.
Political analyst, Thomas Chirwa has weighed in on the developments with some suggesting that the possibility of alliances among major political parties is likely to shape the 2025 electoral landscape. However, others have cautioned against jumping to conclusions based on isolated encounters between political figures.
The UDF which was founded by former President, Dr. Bakili Muluzi in the early 1990s, has remained a key player on the Malawi political scene, particularly in the Southern Region where several political parties have merged ever since the multiparty democracy. The Malawi political atmosphere is currently dominated by a cluster of emerging candidates with the 2025 general elections drawing closer in the country. The major attention is apparently turning into how parties will position themselves in what is expected to be a fiercely contested election year.
