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Malawi Opposition Parties Form Alliance Ahead of Fresh Polls

Lameck Masina

   BLANTYRE - Two of Malawi's biggest opposition parties have formed an
   electoral alliance for the May 19 polls. The two parties were behind
   the lawsuit that prompted a court to throw out last year's election
   results and order a rerun of the vote. The ruling party has also formed
   an alliance, setting up a fierce battle for presidency.

   Announcing the alliance Wednesday, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and
   United Transformation Movement (UTM) said they will soon sign an
   agreement and pick candidates for president and other posts.
   Maurice Munthali, the spokesperson for the Malawi Congress Party, said:
   "We cannot say those things now, because a big thing is that the two
   parties are now agreeing that we can work together, because what
   Malawians are expecting is that 'Are you people agreed that you are
   going to work together?' That is important."
   The MCP is led by Lazarus Chakwera while Vice President Saulos Chilima
   leads the UTM.
   The union of the two parties comes a month after the ruling DPP formed
   an electoral alliance with opposition UDF party.

   In the nullified elections from last May, Malawi's President Peter
   Mutharika of the DPP was reelected with 38 percent of the vote. MCP's
   Lazarus Chakwera came second with 35 percent.

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