‘Clear agreement before entering into alliances is crucial’

Malawi’s political pundit, George Chaima has urged political parties in the country to exercise caution before venturing into alliances prior to the upcoming 2025 polls.

Chaima made these remarks when he was reacting on Alliance for Democracy’s (AFORD) sentiments on its alliance stance ahead of the 2025 elections.

He stated that parties should make sure to have clear terms, conditions as well as viable Manifestos before venturing into alliances with other parties to avoid Misunderstandings.

This comes after reports have been circulating about the hostilities and chaos being faced by the ruling Tonse alliance which has been as a result of parties joining the alliance without clear terms and conditions.

Experts said: “Having a complex and unclear terms and conditions in a political alliance brings in not having clear terms and conditions in a political party’s alliance can lead to several danger like bringing Misunderstandings since lack of clarity.

“This can result in disagreements of the goals, roles, and responsibilities of each party in the alliance.

“Instability can also be evident since lack of clear terms can make the alliance fragile, with parties easily breaking away or switching sides based on changing circumstances or disagreements.

“Legal challenges can also arise due to ambiguous or non-existent terms can create legal vulnerabilities, as parties may dispute the validity or interpretation of the agreement.’

He therefore said that to avoid these dangers, political parties should ensure that their alliances have clear, well-defined terms and conditions that outline the goals, roles, and responsibilities of each party, as well as mechanisms for resolving disputes and managing the alliance effectively.