United Democratic Front (UDF) president Atupele Muluzi has announced that the party is open to forming an alliance with any like-minded political group ahead of the September 16 General Election, aiming to address the key issues hindering Malawi’s development.
Speaking at a political rally held at Bangwe Desert Ground in Blantyre, Muluzi emphasized that UDF’s alliance considerations are centered on shared principles such as prioritizing the economy, eliminating corruption, and promoting investment.
“We are ready to align with any party that upholds our values—putting business first, fighting corruption, and boosting economic growth,” said Atupele. He noted that UDF is committed to helping Malawi overcome challenges like forex shortages, a high cost of living, and food insecurity by creating policies that attract investors and support entrepreneurship.
Commenting on his recent meeting with Alliance for Democracy (Aford) leader Enoch Chihana and UTM Party’s Dalitso Kabambe, Atupele clarified that their conversation focused on promoting peaceful, fair, and violence-free elections.
“We’ve witnessed troubling scenes lately. As leaders, we came together to remind people that politics should focus on ideas, not violence,” he said.
During the rally, UDF’s regional governor for the South, Dorothy Masinga, reiterated the party’s commitment to forming alliances with leaders who are free from corruption. She said UDF supporters are demanding clean governance.
UDF officials including secretary general Genarino Lemani, chairperson Lilian Patel, and treasurer general Yowoyani Mponela were also in attendance.
Meanwhile, UTM Party has confirmed that it is already engaging in coalition discussions with UDF, Aford, the People’s Party (PP), and other opposition parties. UTM spokesperson Felix Njawala acknowledged that while past alliances have had challenges, the goal now is to create a transformative force that can respond to citizens’ needs.
“There’s a lot of public anticipation. People want leadership that will truly transform their lives,” said Njawala, noting that discussions are ongoing and currently not focused on who will appear on the ballot.
UDF spokesperson Dyson Jangia also confirmed the talks and stressed that the party is looking for reliable and trustworthy partners with a proven track record.
Aford spokesperson Annie Amatullah Maluwa echoed this sentiment, saying discussions are ongoing with several opposition parties and that the public will be informed once agreements are finalized.
Political analyst George Chaima has weighed in, saying a coalition of UTM, UDF, Aford, and PP could be a game-changer if built on solid, strategic agreements. He noted that each party brings unique strengths that, when combined, could create a powerful political force.
Meanwhile, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) secretary general Peter Mukhito revealed that DPP is also in talks with multiple parties, including UTM, UDF, PP, and Aford.
In the 2020 fresh presidential elections, UTM, PP, and Aford formed the Tonse Alliance with the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), while UDF allied with DPP.
Malawi heads to the polls on September 16, 2025, to elect the President, 229 Members of Parliament, and 509 ward councillors.
