In a rare coincidence, political bedfellows governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and United Democratic Front (UDF) are set to launch their election manifestos on the same day in Lilongwe.
Published notices indicate that UDF will launch its manifesto at Civo Stadium while DPP will unveil its promises to the electorate at Kamuzu Institute for Sports where it will also give a progress report on its performance in the past five years. The two venues are about 10 kilometres apart.
In an interview yesterday, UDF spokesperson Ken Ndanga said his party is set for the launch.
On the other hand, DPP spokesperson Nicholas Dausi confirmed the launch but asked for more time to get further details.
DPP published a notice in The Daily Times yesterday indicating that the launch would take place between 11 am and 4pm.
Ndanga allayed fears that the hosting of two rival political party launches in one city on the same day could spark clashes, saying: “We have been planning this launch [for a long time], so we don’t mind whether the other party will be launching their manifesto in the same city. After all, Lilongwe is a big city.”
In response to the same question, Dausi said: “It’s neither here nor there.”
DPP and UDF were in a parliamentary working relationship in the Parliament dissolved on March 20 ahead of the elections.
