Facebook Posting from Chatinkha Chidzanja Nkhoma
MCP has never been able to successfully deliver any alliances, try as they may have. Below is a chronological summary of its attempts.
1999
MCP led by Late Gwanda Chakuamba went into an alliance with AFORD led by Chakufwa Chihana. Gwanda’s alliance negotiations team was led by JZU, the then 2nd in command, while Chakufwa’s team was led by Bazuka Mhango.
The conditions from AFORD were that Chihana be running mate, a proposition Chakuamba had no problems with and went ahead and unilaterally appointed Chihana as his running mate.
Unfortunately, this did not auger well with JZU who saw his leadership chances slip away. And therein laid the foundation of political factionalism in the MCP party. JZU’s camp which had the likes of Kate Kainja, Majoni and most of the central region senior crew rebelled and began to DE campaign Gwanda by telling central region people to vote for them as MCP MPs but Muluzi as president….the exact language was “pa MP po voterani MCP, koma pa president po mudziwa nokha”.
Muluzi being street smart, the self- acclaimed political engineer, pounced on this division and discredited the Mgwirizano and termed it Mgawikano Alliance. This proved to be the deal that destroyed Gwanda in MCP and JZU’s camp kicked him out before his term ended (through emergency convention impeachment).
2004
JZU now in power, failed a feeble attempt with the Mgwirizano Coalitions led by Aleke Banda. It’s was a halfhearted attempt my JZU under the pressure of MCP NEC.
2009
MCP NEC again resolved for an alliance with UDF. Processes began and regional mega rallies began…. the likes of the famed Masintha “Njobvu Ziwiri” Mega rally and Katoto Grounds Super Rally. From hence, things went downhill. Then in a scrambled attempt for MCP to save face, it started looking for potential running mate candidates outside the party which saw Richard Msowoya coming in before being dumped last minute for Brown Mpinganjira. BJ’s electoral alliance was doomed from the start because it never got support from the main MCP politburo.
2014
Lazarus Chakwera too, as a new kid on the block, attempted a feeble alliance with the Nnesa, Katsonga, Chiwambo Mgwirizano Coalition. It was just a sham showing, no seriousness in it all.
Conclusion….UTM, don’t hold your breath about anything positive coming out from your talks with MCP. WHY??
MCP will NEVER EVER enter into any alliances which disadvantages its superior standing. UTM must remember that MCP considers no one an equal but only as subordinates subjected to a subservient position.
In simple language, MCP is a classic CULT grouping which elevates its leaders to the position of Cult status and protects its fiefdom from any form of compromise. If its leaders dare to stray from the Way, they are rudely kicked out. Those wishing to join MCP are only allowed to do through absorption not sharing.
Lastly if by some miracle UTM does manage to strike any deal with MCP, know that you being accommodated to be USED because it will only end up being a temporary measure to get them into power and a contract not even worth the paper it’s written on.
Second, be prepared to learn how to worship its leader, kiss ass and play second fiddle. Thirdly, kiss your political careers and ambitions goodbye. My prediction is that any alliance made will last less than the 24 hours you did with Joyce Banda’s PP last year.
Remember, they need you more than you need them….at least for now. Play your cards well and don’t end up in the pile of political victims mounting somewhere in the annals of Malawi’s political history. Patients are a virtue. Hurry hurry is no speed. Ntchenche yojijilika ina sinjidwa ndi nchimba.
Lastly MCP, don’t underestimate UTM, they have a hunger and desperation for power which boarders on frenzy. My advice is that both sides should go it alone, stop this push for 50+1, you don’t change the soccer rules in extra time…. you have a better chance at government without 50+1…. in reality.
MAU ACHIKONDI ALIBE MANTHA….
Note from Author: A Historical Perspective…. (Some details may not be accurately recalled…. correction allowed)
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are not necessarily the views of the Publisher or the Editor of Maravi Post
Who doesn’t know that the writer is a disgruntled person. Actually at this point in time , she can’t say anything positive about MCP as she is no longer useful in politics. I would not be surprised to hear that akumbvabe kupweteka and she is trying to discourage kuti ngwrizano usatheke .
Mummy , mind your business because nobody cares about you
That’s my respected sister from another mother CHATINKHA!
Well put ccta, TRUTH AS TOLD; YES TRUTH PAINS BUT IT SETS YOU FREE!
NDAKUNYADILA CCTA, ULEMU WAKO!!!
Is the writer not the woman who had taken Chakwera and MCP to court just some months before the May 2019 elections? The same one who went on MBC to talk I’ll of Chakwera? Obviously she has no kind words for MCP. Besides, if alliances with MCP had failed in the past it does not mean they will fail in the future. The article is definitely meant to mislead people. Throw it where it belongs in the trash bin!
It won’t fail my dear. Just wait & see.
Let me confess this writer is intelligent. He knows what sides want to hear. I personally feel the Problem is not alliance itself, but how alliances were/are formed. We’ve just seen a repeat of it between DPP and UDF. No one wants to make sure that you have agreements that are well thought of and give way to a win-win situation.
However, I think the writer wants to paint a picture that alliance with MCP never materializes to anything and in a sense discouraging UTM-MCP alliance through distorting the truth of what happened in past elections.
Here are the examples of the points that have been twisted:
In 1999 the problem was not alliance but a rift in MCP following the appointment of (Aford) president Chakufwa Chihana as running mate for MCP by the then president Gwanda Chakuamba and the MCP vice president John Tembo disassociated himself from the partnership arguing that the party’s convention elected him as the presidential running mate. By the way this time UDF was on Fire after the seemingly the first 5 years and it was difficult to outsmart it because he won the hearts of the majority of Malawians.
In 2004: the problem was not alliances at all. Prior to the 2004 General Elections, the political battles were between John Tembo and the late Gwanda Chakuamba. That time, there were two parallel conventions in Lilongwe and Blantyre which elected both Tembo and Chakuamba as party presidents. Later, the two factions held one convention at Motel Paradise in Blantyre where Tembo won the MCP mantle. That led to Chakuamba leaving the party and ended up leading mgwirizano coalition after forming National Congress Party. It was clear that there was no way the JZU and Gwanda would have formed an alliance.
https://www.mwnation.com/mcp-a-house-divided-against-itself/.
In 2009 the problem was with the way the alliance was formed that left others disgruntled. The 2009 alliance came after Bakili Muluzi’s nomination paper was rejected for being ineligible to stand as a presidential candidate. Out of frustration, after touting that amphwetsa Bingu, Muluzi decided to give out Brown Mpinganjira as a running mate to JZU in order to have UDF support this MCP led marriage of convenience. Ironically this time around Bingu had been a star performer and had won the hearts of the majority of Malawians.
In 2014 there was no alliance as all individual parties, each was too confident that they would carry the day after cash-gate scandal.
Come to the current situation, to say MCP position is clear that does not mean UTM position is not clear or they do not have a position. No party goes to the negotiation table without demands, that’s why there is win-win situation, give and take. The fact that your demands are all high, does not mean you cannot reach reach a consensus or meet in the middle. Not everyone will be for everything. Some with their interests chose to support or not if they feel either the situation suits them or not.
Therefore, I find that this article to be leaning more towards misleading and has strong aspects of propaganda aimed at discouraging UTM-MCP alliance to make one believe it is impossible. The conclusion says it all. This is a woof in a sheepskin with the propaganda of the highest order intelligently crafted. Leave it or take it.
Copied from C. Shema whatsap
Excellent article. Well written reflecting facts not fiction