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| National |
| Dossi says UDF risks loss in 2004 |
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by
George Ntonya, 29 July 2003
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07:49:15
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Former Sports Minister Moses Dossi has said the UDF risks losing the next general elections if it maintains Bingu Mutharika as presidential candidate, although President Bakili Muluzi has pledged to ensure victory for Mutharika.
Speaking in an interview in Lilongwe Friday, Dossi said the UDF should take the May, 2004 elections seriously because it would be difficult for the party to return to Sanjika after losing the forthcoming elections.
“If all the 200 delegates to the UDF convention vote for Bingu Mutharika as presidential candidate, when the masses out there are saying no to Bingu, what shall that benefit the UDF? Obviously we are going to lose the election,” said Dossi, who is also aspiring to replace Muluzi as state president.
“People are saying no to Bingu and [party leaders] must be able to tell the president what the people are saying. It is a fact that this country needs young leaders. I am not being sarcastic but this is a fact.”
He said he wished he could meet Muluzi to brief him on the real situation on the ground but feared the President would not take him seriously since he is an interested party.
Like other commentators on the issue, Dossi said that party leaders are aware of the risk of fielding Mutharika only that “they are not telling the President the truth.”
Muluzi dropped Dossi from cabinet apparently for showing interest to lead the UDF in next years general elections.
Dossi is confident that the UDF convention, slated for August 8 in Lilongwe, would ignore Muluzi’s choice of Mutharika and endorse him as party presidential candidate, if democratic principles are followed.
Muluzi has repeatedly told the nation that he would do everything possible for Mutharika to rule this country after him and UDF deputy regional governor for the south Samson Msosa told a recent presidential rally in Zomba that Dossi was not supposed to attend party functions including the national convention, because of his anti-Bingu stand.
“I am not threatened. I am ready to die for the truth,” Dossi said when asked about his security.
Last week Muluzi dismissed Dossi as not a threat to Mutharika.
Dossi is the only person who has shown courage to contest against Mutharika at the convention while former deputy minister of agriculture Joe Manduwa wants to contest against Muluzi as UDF national chairman, a post that has just been created.
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