POLITICAL PARTY WOES

A Mzuzu University-based political analyst says the leadership wrangles in the former ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) hinges on 2014 presidential candidature and failure to hold a convention.
Mr. Noel Mbowela says, for example, it appears that one camp supports Mr. Atupele Muluzi’s idea to be the party’s torch-bearer in the 2014 presidential polls, while the other camp is against the idea.
Cracks in UDF emerged on Friday when one faction of the party elected Dr. George Nga Ntafu as its National Chairman, but the other camp, led by UDF acting president, Mr. Friday Jumbe, declared the decision as null and void.
Leadership woes in the country’s political parties seem to have reached climax.Malawi Congress Party is on the verge of disorientation as spokesperson and president of the party are speaking two different languages on 2014 presidential candidacy of the party.
While Democratic Progressive Party continues making an opponent of itself.On Friday 29 January, 2011 things fell apart in the former ruling party, United Democratic Front.
Dr. George Nga Ntafu, was elected as the partyy’s National Chairman, but a camp led by Mr. Friday Jumbe acting president of the party described the meeting in which Dr. Ntafu was elected as illegal.
And Mzuzu University-based political analyst, Mr. Noel Mbowela,  says the divisions within UDF hinge on whether or not Mr. Atupele Muluzi should be the party’s 2014 presidential candidate.
“One camp thinks that the party’s 2014 presidential candidate should be the former president’s son Atupele Muluzi, while the other camp believes that is no in order, ” says Mr. Mbowela.
The political analyst further says failure to hold convention in time is another factor fueling the divisions in UDF.
“I think,” says the political analyst, “the fact that Mr. Friday Jumbe is holding his current position without the blessing of the national convention is causing discomfort among some party members.”
But Mbowela believes efforts by the former president, Dr. Bakili Muluzi, to bring the two parties to a round table can work.
Media reports indicate that Mr. Jumbe and Dr. Ntafu were called by Dr. Muluzi to iron out the differences, the outcome of the meeting has not been made public.
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