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| National |
| UDF distances itself from rigging |
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by
Bright Sonani and Zainah Liwanda, 22 November 2004
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10:50:49
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The ruling UDF and its May 20 elections partner Aford have distanced themselves from the allegations that certain individuals assisted President Bingu wa Mutharika to rig the polls.
The two parties said the allegations must be taken as personal to the individuals mentioned in the reports.
A joint statement signed by the two parties’ publicists Salule Masangwi and Norman Nyirenda said the reports have nothing to do with the UDF and Aford as parties that vigorously campaigned for Bingu.
“UDF and Aford never at any time before, during or after the elections, think, discuss, or engage in any rigging tactics or any act that would have undermined the results of the 2004 presidential and parliamentary polls,” reads the statement.
On Thursday UDF national executive member Dumbo Lemani and southern region governor John Chikakwiya told the press in Blantyre that the party’s Deputy Research Director Humphrey Mvula, who is currently in custody answering murder charges, has informed them that he manipulated votes to make Mutharika win the polls.
The two said Mvula was ready to testify in the election case where the Mgwirizano Coalition and MCP is contesting the results.
The revelation comes on the heels of cracks in the ruling party which have created a rift between the party and government.
At a press conference last Friday, Vice President Cassim Chilumpha parried allegations by UDF executive member Dumbo Lemani that President Bingu wa Mutharika’s victory in the May 20 elections was fraudulent.
Lemani was quoted as saying UDF deputy director of research, Humphrey Mvula, who is currently in custody over suspicion that he and others murdered Sheikh Bughdad, rigged the election for Mutharika.
Chilumpha strongly disassociated the UDF from those remarks, saying Mutharika was legally and constitutionally elected. He charged that Lemani owes the nation an explanation over his remarks.
“As far as we are concerned, Dr Bingu wa Mutharika was constitutionally and legally elected to assume the office of the President of this Republic. As a party, UDF did not either collectively or individually do anything to break the law or to suggest or create the impression that our current President was not properly elected,” said Chilumpha.
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