By Tenson Zobo
The United Democratic Front youths has scoffed at president Atupele Muluzi and Publicity Secretory Ken Ndanga’s announcement that Vice President Iqbar Omar has been stripped of the position of party’s Vice President.
The revelations were made during press briefing at UDF offices in Lilongwe where among others UDF youths in central region are calling for convention of the party within 21 days failure the president should resign.
The party’s concerned youths has said the announcement is just a ploy to tarnish the VP’s image hence the removal of post in the party. The party, however, bemoans what it sees as tactics that are aimed at frustrating and embarrassing the Omar who is one of the founders of the party.
“The backbone of UDF party is manifested to the people out there in the district not only to hierarchy officials. Therefore, the owners of the party (people in village) are calling for convention of UDF party so that people has conflict management skills can lead the party by settling the crisis and dispute within the party” said Alex Wasili a concerned member.
He also faulted the UDF president for not be available for people’s voices and promised to fight back for the party if peace fails.
Deputy Director of Youths in Central region Ishmael Malidi laments that Atupele Muluzi has failed to manage the party’s structure by failing to use procedures in managing crisis and disputes in the party and appealed the party to recent removal of the VP.
The youths of the party notes with dismay the announcements by Ken Ndanga on Radio Islam that all people who are calling for convention are those who are expelled from the party.
“The remarks made by Ndanga are not only laughable but a pack of lies. Malawi can witness how continued strategy to harass, intimidate and embarrass the Vice President Omar, this is killing the party, therefore, as youths we call on Ndanga to retract these falsehoods and make a public apology”, said Malindi
Iqbar Omar who is claimed fired from UDF Vice President in different interview rubbish the remarks by Ndanga. Omar condemned the overzealous comments by party officials that it send wrong signals of the party leading to malfunction of the party. He added that UDF has the ability to win elections in 2019 if precedence is anything to go by.
