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| National |
| Governor insists Muluzi set for 2009 poll |
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by
Edward Nyirenda, 25 January 2007
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07:12:41
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United Democratic Front (UDF) regional governor for the North Kajiso Gondwe has swallowed his pride and admitted that he told the party’s members from district committees in the region that former president Bakili Muluzi will run for president in 2009.
But the party has distanced itself from the statement.
Gondwe, who visited Nation offices in Mzuzu Wednesday said when he broke the news, every member from the districts that attended the meeting was very happy.
“There was a huge celebration to the extent that one member bought drinks for everyone in the meeting just because of the news,” said Gondwe.
Gondwe’s clarification comes after a story in Wednesday’s edition of The Nation where a member of the regional committee was quoted as saying some party members in the region were unhappy with news that Muluzi would contest in the 2009 elections on the party’s ticket.
In the story, Gondwe denied that he said Muluzi would contest again—arguing that the issue of presidential candidates was never discussed at the meeting.
“Yesterday, when you were asking me about that I didn’t want to say it because you know that as a parent I have to be cautious. We don’t want people to have evil thinking because from today to 2009 there are so many things that can happen. There are many who may not wish Muluzi well...,” he said.
The regional governor said Muluzi is the only one who can defeat President Bingu wa Mutharika in 2009.
Asked which official contacted him as many UDF leaders have been playing hide and seek over the issue, Gondwe declined to disclose anything.
“Am I mad just to say this on my own? And let me also say this does not mean there will not be a convention. There will be one but if Muluzi is contesting he would definitely win because of the numbers. We all love him and he will be our presidential candidate,” he said.
But UDF spokesperson Sam Mpasu, when told of Gondwe’s assertion, laughed at length before maintaining his earlier stand.
“The issue is I said in my earlier interview yesterday. The choice of a presidential candidate is by the convention. If [Muluzi] wants to stand, he will have to compete with others,” Mpasu said.
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