Ian Kanyuka was the first UDF senior official to see what was happening to the party when the leader Atupele Muluzi accepted to serve in the Mutharika government without getting any concessions from the DPP and Mutharika that would benefit the UDF and some of its leaders.
The early voices of discontent with the Peter-Atupele partnership came from former UDF Administrative Secretary, Ian Kanyuka, who said he was removed from the position in December last year because he had questioned the motive behind Atupele joining the government where he was serving as Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining.
Mr. Kanyuka then said UDF was on the verge of collapsing and eventually being swallowed by ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
The latest to question the motives of leader Atupele Muluzi is musician turned politician Lucius Banda, he said of the alliance in parliament, “I know that as a party we took a stand to support government because our leader (Atupele Muluzi) was appointed minister, but I feel we still needed to remain on the opposition side for the benefit of our party.
“We have been reduced to mere spectators and it pains me to see that UDF can no longer respond to the President Peter Mutharika’s State of the Nation address,” said Banda in an interview published in a Malawi publication.
As to the accusations that he was just bitter for not getting a government job like Ian Kanyuka was also accused of, Banda said the following to a Malawi publication,
“I am not interested in a ministerial position. Remember, I am a musician and my legislative work even takes much of my time already. As a musician, I lose out on business I am supposed to do every weekend and I wouldn’t really love to go that far because my musical career would die.
“Mind you, I don’t do music on part-time; I am a full time musician with a history and I can’t quit music even if I was given billions of dollars. My point is that I could support anything, but the move to completely be shut out is what I can’t stomach. I am also convinced that the villagers now know what’s happening after seeing that the UDF didn’t respond to President Mutharika’s address,” said Banda.
Many members of the UDF approached by the Maravi Post are disappointed with Atupele Muluzi, son to former president Bakili Muluzi, who they say is making crucial decisions concerning the party without consulting the National Executive Committee (NEC).
About two months ago rumors were circulating around that Atupele was promised the Vice Presidency the next go round If not earlier. Observers familiar with how Peter Mutharika operates claim he decided not to make Atupele second Vice President when he met stiff resistance from members of the DPP who have ambitions of their own.
Many members of the UDF scared of the Power Bakili Muluzi still wields in the party were not willing to be on record but quietly agreed with the observations that what Atupele Muluzi is doing is definitely diminishing the UDF as a party.
