Jumbe leaves Tisintha Alliance

The New Labour Party (NLP), which is led by Friday Jumbe, is finally out of Tisintha Alliance citing immense pressure from its supporters.

This means that only six parties; Malawi Forum for Unity and Development (Mafunde), New Republican Party (NRP), Republican Party (RP), Congress for National Unity (Conu), Malawi Democratic Party (MDP) and National Unity Party (NUP) remain in the alliance.

Mafunde president George Nnensa said he only got the rumour.

However, NLP secretary general Joseph Kubwalo said yesterday the decision to leave the alliance was made on Friday.

“We underestimated the pressure from the grassroots supporters who have been against the idea of forming the alliance. We have finally succumbed to the pressure and pulled out,” said Kubwalo.

In fact, MEC had already released the calendar for the presidential candidates to present their papers and Tisintha Alliance will do it on Thursday, February 13 2013.

Kubwalo said the party already communicated to MEC and has given it the date of Thursday, the same time given to Tisintha Alliance.

MEC spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa confirmed that NLP has been given a date to present its papers.

“The day and time was allocated to Tisintha Alliance, but it has not yet nominated the presidential candidate. When it does, we will give it another time,” said Mwafulirwa.