By Jones Gadama
As the country gears up for the upcoming elections, a local analyst has predicted a potential runoff election, citing the failure of opposition parties to form a unified alliance.
Dazimata Kenneth Nicholas, a renowned political analyst, has published an in-depth analysis of the possible alliances between opposition parties, concluding that none of the existing alliances are strong enough to secure the required 50+1 votes to win the presidency.
According to Nicholas, the UTM-UDF-PP Alliance, AFORD-DPP Alliance, and MCP-OZAM-PDP Alliance all have significant weaknesses that will hinder their chances of winning.
“The UTM-UDF-PP Alliance may gain traction in the eastern region, but it will struggle to secure additional votes in the central region and maintain its existing numbers in the northern and southern parts of Malawi,” Nicholas wrote.
He also expressed skepticism about the AFORD-DPP Alliance, stating that it is unlikely to yield significant benefits for either party.
“The votes that DPP may gain from AFORD are unlikely to be sufficient to secure a win with the required 50+1 votes,” Nicholas noted.
Regarding the MCP-OZAM-PDP Alliance, Nicholas predicted that it may ultimately lead to a loss of supporters for PDP, rather than OZAM.
“In conclusion, Malawians should prepare for a potential runoff election after September 16, even if these alliances materialize,” Nicholas warned.
He emphasized that opposition parties need to form a unified alliance if they hope to form the next government.
“Conversely, the ruling party must work diligently to revitalize the economy and rectify other broken systems to regain the trust of the people; otherwise, additional taxpayer funds will be expended on a runoff election,” Nicholas concluded.
The analyst’s predictions have sparked heated debate among Malawians, with some expressing concern about the potential for a runoff election and others calling for opposition parties to unite against the ruling party.
