By Suleman Chitera

In a bold display of democratic maturity, the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) has said it will not punish its deputy leader, Timothy Mtambo, for publicly opposing the party’s alliance with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Mtambo recently stirred debate when he declared he would not campaign for the DPP, accusing the party of failing to uplift the lives of Malawians. His remarks sparked speculation of a rift within AFORD’s top ranks.

But the party’s spokesperson, Annie Amatullah Maluwa said that Mtambo’s stance is not a cause for conflict, saying AFORD values democratic freedom and respects differing views. “This is the beauty of democracy. We’ve allowed Mtambo to act as he wishes,” she said.

Political analyst Dr. George Chaima weighed in, warning that visible divisions within the party could confuse voters. He urged AFORD to find a unified strategy to manage internal disagreements as the country heads toward the polls.

As tensions simmer, AFORD walks a tightrope—balancing freedom of expression with party unity, in what could be a defining moment ahead of the general elections.