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PP pulls out of coalition after 3 days

Events unfolded swiftly on the political scene yesterday. First,  erstwhile governing People’s Party (PP) pulled out of an electoral alliance with UTM Party led by Vice-President Saulos Chilima barely three days after its formation.

Events unfolded swiftly on the political scene yesterday. First, erstwhile governing People’s Party (PP) pulled out of an electoral alliance with UTM Party led by Vice-President Saulos Chilima barely three days after its formation.

Who will he pair with?: Chilima

Then news filtered in that UTM Party was, in fact, engaged in discussions with United Democratic Front (UDF) for a possible deal that sources hinted could pair Chilima and UDF president Atupele Muluzi on the presidential ballot in the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections.

Impeccable sources in both UTM and UDF confided to Nation Online that representatives of the parties were meeting in Lilongwe yesterday.

But some sources indicated the talks between UTM and UDF ended in a deadlock after failing to reach a conclusion.

The photo that went viral on Friday shows Chilima flanked by Banda, Katsonga, Chilumpha, among other leaders

One source privy to the discussion said: “Apparently, they [UDF and UTM teams] have been in a closed door meeting, but now they are out probably to consult with their parties’ leadership on the way forward.”

Another source corroborated that the two parties met, but said they would maintain the schedule for presenting nomination papers until reaching a conclusion.

To go it alone?: Muluzi

The talks were happening at a time Muluzi, who is Minister of Health in President Peter Mutharika’s Cabinet, and Chilima are scheduled to present their presidential nomination papers to Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).

PP announced its withdrawal from the coalition with UTM, Alliance for Democracy and Tikonze People’s Movement after UTM refused to give the running mate slot to PP, according to a statement signed by PP spokesperson Ackson Kalaile Banda.

PP president Joyce Banda is meanwhile set to present her presidential nomination papers and unveil her running mate today.

Banda, who ascended the presidency in line with constitutional order after the death of Bingu wa Mutharika in 2012, finished third in the May 20 2014 Tripartite Elections with 1 056 236 votes against 1 904 399 for Peter Mutharika and 1 455 880 for second-placed Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi Congress Party. Muluzi was fourth with 717 224 votes.

In the statement, the PP spokesperson said: “PP is withdrawing from this arrangement because UTM has failed to comply with the terms of the agreement and a spirit of solidarity that emerged between PP and UTM.”

He said PP felt betrayed after five months of discussions between the two parties.

A UTM source confided that Chilima refused to take on board Joyce Banda’s son and PP vice-president Roy Kachale as his running mate.

UTM spokesperson Joseph Chidanti Malunga could not be reached on his mobile phone while the party’s secretary general Patricia Kaliati denied knowledge of the matter.

Later in the day, former vice-president Cassim Chilumpha also announced that his Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) had pulled out of both Tikonze People’s Movement and the alliance with UTM.

Chilumpha, who was earmarked as the presidential candidate of Tikonze, accused UTM Party of disregarding terms of their agreement.

Meanwhile, UTM Party is scheduled to hold a news conference in Blantyre this Tuesday.

Then news filtered in that UTM Party was, in fact, engaged in discussions with United Democratic Front (UDF) for a possible deal that sources hinted could pair Chilima and UDF president Atupele Muluzi on the presidential ballot in the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections.

Another source corroborated that the two parties met, but said they would maintain the schedule for presenting nomination papers until reaching a conclusion.

The talks were happening at a time Muluzi, who is Minister of Health in President Peter Mutharika’s Cabinet, and Chilima are scheduled to present their presidential nomination papers to Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).

PP announced its withdrawal from the coalition with UTM, Alliance for Democracy and Tikonze People’s Movement after UTM refused to give the running mate slot to PP, according to a statement signed by PP spokesperson Ackson Kalaile Banda.

PP president Joyce Banda is meanwhile set to present her presidential nomination papers and unveil her running mate today.

Banda, who ascended the presidency in line with constitutional order after the death of Bingu wa Mutharika in 2012, finished third in the May 20 2014 Tripartite Elections with 1 056 236 votes against 1 904 399 for Peter Mutharika and 1 455 880 for second-placed Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi Congress Party. Muluzi was fourth with 717 224 votes.

In the statement, the PP spokesperson said: “PP is withdrawing from this arrangement because UTM has failed to comply with the terms of the agreement and a spirit of solidarity that emerged between PP and UTM.”

He said PP felt betrayed after five months of discussions between the two parties.

A UTM source confided that Chilima refused to take on board Joyce Banda’s son and PP vice-president Roy Kachale as his running mate.

UTM spokesperson Joseph Chidanti Malunga could not be reached on his mobile phone while the party’s secretary general Patricia Kaliati denied knowledge of the matter.

Later in the day, former vice-president Cassim Chilumpha also announced that his Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) had pulled out of both Tikonze People’s Movement and the alliance with UTM.

Chilumpha, who was earmarked as the presidential candidate of Tikonze, accused UTM Party of disregarding terms of their agreement.

Meanwhile, UTM Party is scheduled to hold a news conference in Blantyre this Tuesday.

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