BLANTYRE--Only two UDF parliamentarians made into National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party at its convention elected its leaders for the next five years, a development that might further divide the splintered party.

The UDF parliamentarians were staunch supporters of its newly elected National Chairman Atupele Muluzi and several who spoke to MaraPost have expressed dissatisfaction that they were considered as outsiders in running the affairs of the party.

The only MPs to have made it into NEC are Muluzi who is Machinga North East MP and Earnest Kaliati who becomes Deputy National Youth Director and is Machinga Central MP.

Leader of UDF in Parliament Clement Chiwaya was floored by another of Atupele’s inner circle Gerald Mponda for the position of Deputy Secretary General while Aumi Mpaweni another MP who made an attempt for the Director of Youth was left in the cold by a member we could only identify as Malomu.

Chancellor College, University of Malawi political commentator Blessings Chinsinga told a local radio that the party shouldn’t expect a smooth ride and the legitimacy of Atupele will always been undermined by those considered to be part of the UDF but didn’t attend the convention in protest.

UDF founders including Sam Mpasu, who is Vice President for another faction, Treasurer General George Nga Ntafu, former administrative Secretary Ziliro Chibambo and acting President Friday Jumbe all shunned the elective meeting held at Comesa in Blantyre.

The old guard has had no kind words for Atupele’s father, former Malawi president and UDF chairman Bakili Muluzi whom they accuse of using his financial muscle to force his son on the party which was in power from 1994-2004.
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(c) The Maravi Post 2012. Reproduction without acknowledgement authorised

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