Giving a dramatic twist to upcoming elections in Malawi, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has reportedly entered into an alliance with the opposition party, United Democratic Front (UDF), with an aim to get more than 50 percent of the total votes required for winning the election, reported Africa News.
The partnership was announced a day after the Malawi parliament set May 19 as the date for fresh presidential elections.
During the signing ceremony in the capital, Lilongwe, on Tuesday, President Peter Mutharika said the partnership comes because both parties hold similar values.
“We are democratic, peaceful and development-orientated parties. We share similar aspirations to improve living standards of all Malawians in this country. We are all determined to achieve this,” he said.
Mutharika said both the parties are also considering joining a coalition.
“And our goal is to unite and develop this country. God bless alliance; God bless Malawi,” he said.
The fresh elections followed a constitutional court’s ruling that nullified last May’s ballot results that returned President Peter Mutharika to the power. Mutharika got 38.5% of the vote in the elections held last year.
Malawi Congress Party’s Lazarus Chakwera came second with 35 percent of the vote. Vice President Saulos Chilima, of the United Transformation Movement (UTM) Party, came third, with 20 percent of the votes, while UDF leader Atupele Muluzi came fourth in the May election, taking about 5 percent of the vote.
Chakwera and Chilima challenged the Malawi election results in court citing massive irregularities. Earlier this month, the Constitutional Court ruled last May’s election was fraught with widespread irregularities that included the massive use of correction fluid on tally sheets.
The court ordered new election in Malawi in the next 150 days. Notably, as per the amended Electoral Act, there will be a runoff election within 30 days if no candidate receives a majority of votes.
