‘UDF old guards fearing youthful Atupele’

Old guards in the former ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) are "afraid" of lawmaker Atupele Muluzi , son to former president Bakili Muluzi, who is being persuaded to seek nomination to become a presidential candidate, party supporters have said.

Addressing a news conference in Lilongwe, supporters of Atupele who have formed a pressure group called 'Voice of the People' said the UDF old guards are plotting to frustrate  Atupele's presidential bid , accusing him of sending out his supporters to campaign for him.

UDF regional member Yusuf Mlembe said: "These old guards are simply afraid of Atupele."

Atupele Muluzi: Supporters want him to run for presidency

He added: "They are failing to read the signs of the times. "

UDF summoned Atupele for a disciplinary hearing on charges that he was addressing public meetings and that he campaigned for Aford's Enoch Chihana in Rumphi Central constituency during the by-election.

"These executive members are not conducting meetings and Atupele is keeping the party alive. He did well to support youthful Enock Chihana in Rumphi. This is an era of new generation of leaders," said Mlembe.

However, UDF deputy publicity secretary Ken Msonda said the issue of Atupele should not be blown out of proportion, saying the party is mending fences as the two factions one belonging to Friday Jumbe and the other that was headed by George Nga Mtafu have agreed to bury their differences and start to work together

Acting UDF president Jumbe has since indicated that party is not going to rush to hold its National Convention to elect a torch bearer for the 2014 General Elections, stressing that the party would like to see all the wounds that were caused by the differences among its leaders healed first.

“The party was heavily affected by the factions that were there. It is in this back ground that we have agreed to work as a united front. We are not going to rush for a convention because we want to see that all the wounds have been healed.But definitely we are going to hold one before the General Elections,” said Jumbe.

Jumbe downplayed Atupele's candidacy, saying that there are a number of party members who are going to fight for the positions in the party.

“He (Atupele) is not the only person to contest because there are also others who are going to contest for the candidacy. If Atupele will meet the requirements of the party to stand at the convention, he will be welcome because we are a party that put democracy first,” said Jumbe.

Nyasa Times 09 Sep, 2011

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Source: http://www.nyasatimes.com/politics/%e2%80%98udf-old-guards-fearing-youthful-atupele%e2%80%99/
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