One of the Tonse Alliance partners, UTM, has revealed that it will not feature candidate in the Nkhatabay Central Constituency’s fresh Parliamentary election, and it is instead supporting People’s Party (PP) contestant Ralph Mhone.
In a statement which is in circulation on social media, the UTM leadership argues that the decision has been made in honour of Mhone, who put a gallant fight in seeking justice to defend democracy by successfully challenging the victory of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate in the 2019 polls.
“The UTM is in sincere admiration of the dogged determination by Counsel and Honourable Ralph Mhone in pursuing justice when he expended and invested energies to take the matter of the mismanaged 21 May 2019 Parliamentary elections, in Nkhatabay Central Constituency, through the courts,” reads the statement.
“In this vein the UTM has elected not to feature in the impending elections that follow Hon Ralph Mhone’s successful pursuit of justice in Nkhatabay Central Constituency. The UTM will, instead, support Hon. Ralph Mhone’s Campaign,” UTM declared.
However, University of Livingstonia Political Analyst, Alex Kavinya says this may not augur well with UTM structures in the Constituency for breaching their trust.
But UTM Spokesperson, Frank Mwenifumbo, in an interview with local media, has defended the move saying the party is just honoring Mhone who successfully challenged the victory of DPP candidate Symon Vuwa Kaunda in the 2019 polls which have been nullified by the court.
Meanwhile, Malawi Congress Party has told media that it has not yet made decision in regards to the fresh election in Nkhata Bay.
According to the party’s General Secretary, Eisenhower Mkaka, the party leadership will meet and discuss the matter.
MCP, PP and UTM are pillars of the Tonse Alliance which successfully dethroned the former ruling DPP, under the guidance of Lazarus Chakwera who is now the President, and Saulos Claus Chilima, the Vice President.