|
The UDF emerged from a two-day peaceful convention at 1AM on Sunday with a new executive committee where only two people have retained their positions, leaving behind a question: what would have happened if President Bakili Muluzi had not campaigned for now presidential candidate Bingu Mutharika massively and well in advance?
Another question hanging in the air is: what is the future of heavyweights — Commerce Minister Sam Mpasu, Water Development Minister Dumbo Lemani, former secretary general Katenga Kaunda, Harry Thomson and Kaphwiti Banda — who did not run for any position?
Still another question is: what will happen to the position of running mate now that the convention endorsed the working relationship between UDF and Aford? Will the UDF retain Cassim Chilumpha or Aford president Chakufwa Chihana will demand the slot?
In the elections that ran for nine hours with a lot of surprises, Muluzi became national party chair without any opposition. The party’s running mate Cassim Chilumpha had to withdraw from the race last minute to give Justin Malewezi the first deputy national chair on a silver platter.
Surprises started emerging when renowned lawyer Raphael Mhone, so far anonymous in political circles, beat convention organizing committee chair Rodwell Munyenyembe to become second deputy national chair, polling 741 against 536 votes.
Mutharika was endorsed as the party presidential candidate with solid 1,280 votes against determined former Sports Minister Moses Dossi who only managed to get 12 votes.
Dossi, who was only allowed to contest out of sympathy after the committee conducting the elections found that the people who supported his nomination were not among the registered delegates, failed to even find someone to monitor the counting of votes for him.
Committee chair retired judge William Hanjahanja had to allow him to monitor the exercise himself. There was, however, little excitement when returning officer Kalekeni Kaphale announced the result.
Kaunda did not defend his position, leaving the contest between administrative secretary Kennedy Makwangwala and long-time UDF loyalist Joseph Kainja Nthala. Makwangwala whitewashed Nthala, getting 1,236 votes against 41.
Justice Minister Paul Maulidi, who attended the convention after being discharged from Blantyre Adventist Hospital where he was admitted after a road accident on Thursday, retained his position as deputy secretary general.
He saw off challenges from likable Health Minister Yusuf Mwawa and Blantyre City South MP Elwin Maluwa, whose mention caused laughter among the convention delegates, polling 760 against 524 and two votes in that order.
The new UDF treasurer general is Mzuzu based business entrepreneur Khumbo Kachale. He replaces founder member Patrick Mbewe who reportedly resigned from the position last month after differing with Muluzi over the procedure used to choose the party’s presidential candidate and running mate.
Getting 912 votes, Kachale walked over presidential advisor Mary Nyandovi Kerr with 222 votes, businessman Winston Gumbo with 45 votes, former deputy treasurer general Patricia Kara who only got 32 votes, and intellectual George Afwawaka Kandawire who did not attract any vote.
Kachale’s deputy is Statutory Corporations Minister Bob Khamisa who triumphed with 713 votes over businessman Alfred Mwechumu with 214 votes, former Poverty Alleviation Minister Leonard Mangulama with 295 votes and former Works Minister Abdul Pillane with 18 votes. Thyolo East MP Felix Chome got eight votes while Maluwa, trying his luck for the second time, got a single vote this time.
Presidential Affairs Minister Ken Lipenga ascended to the position of publicity secretary, vacated by Chilumpha, unchallenged. HIV/Aids Minister Mary Kaphwereza Banda became deputy publicity secretary. The shrewd lady thrashed Lilongwe city councillor Wakuda Kamanga, obscure Adin Mbowani and Lilongwe resident business executive Marjorie Ngaunje with 646 votes against 130,350 and 129 in that order.
The battle for the post of national organising secretary was left to Chikwawa compatriots. Local Government Minister Salim Bagus beat incumbent Clement Khembo, pounding him 1,023 to 260 votes.
Former regional governor for Centre Maurice Kachimbwinda, who was state house public relations officer for the past four years, was elected deputy national organising secretary. He trampled over Lilongwe businessman Simolet Kachere, party loyalist Howard Kananji and little known George Mbewe with 1,081 votes against, 158, 43 and 10 votes in that order.
Two Central Region political giants slugged it out for the national directorate of campaign. Transport Minister Clement Stambuli lost to businessman Iqbal Omar 338 to 831 votes.
Omar’s deputy is public events deputy minister Patricia Kaliati. She trounced an all-men challenge, securing 963 votes over Mangochi Malombe MP James Chikwenga who was given 170 votes. Elegant deputy Agriculture Minister Henry Mussa came third with 149 votes and youthful Zomba Malosa MP Kennedy Kuntenga anchored the pack with 11 votes.
Scholarly George Chaponda is the director of research after polling 795 votes over Lands Minister Thengo Maloya who came close with 524 votes. Admarc Chief Executive Evans Chipala followed with 114 votes, and anonymous Goodson Phiri came last with 13 votes.
Chaponda’s deputy is astute Shire Buslines Chief Executive Humphrey Mvula. He easily shrugged off Kandawire, making his second effort, anonymous Reverend Brown Soko, former deputy treasurer general Patricia Kara, Francis Chanda and Gumbo.
Mvula got 755 votes. Soko came second with 401 votes. Kara followed him with 71 votes. Chanda came fourth with 20 votes. Kandawire got seven votes while Gumbo got a single vote. 20 votes were declared null and void.
Attorney General Peter Fachi retained his position as UDF director for legal affairs. He routed prominent Blantyre based lawyer Meyer Chisanga with 1,197 votes against a meagre 46 votes. Twelve votes were disqualified. Presidential advisor on legal affairs Phillip Banda sailed through unopposed, after Mhone pulled out last minute, to become deputy director for legal affairs.
The convention massively elected business entrepreneur Joyce Banda as national director for women affairs over Foreign Affairs Minister Lilian Patel and presidential advisor of women affairs Edda Chitalo. Banda got 967 votes. Patel 349 while Chitalo went away 25 votes.
Personal assistant to Chilumpha when he was Education Minister, Zeria Chakale, vanquished five other women to become deputy director for women affairs. She seized a total of 1,014 votes. The second best was party loyalist Ruth Kanduna with 79 votes. Little known Edith Zulu came third with 57 votes. Former Deputy Speaker Lilian Kapanda Phiri was fourth with 53 votes. Unknown Tabu Friday managed 43 votes, while another party activist Mary Ndende got 15 votes.
Minister of Education George Nga Mtafu became director of education, and deputy Foreign Minister Chimunthu Banda his deputy unchallenged. Speaker of the National Assembly Davis Katsonga also became director for social services unopposed. Elections for his deputy were cancelled after the contestants, Frank Mayinga Mkandawire and Namwaza Banda, had already been introduced. The reasons could not be established immediately.
Another whitewash of the night was during the elections of director for economic affairs. Finance Minister Friday Jumbe flatly stunned economic scholar Kalonga Stambuli, polling a whooping 1,132 votes against a miserable 37 votes. His deputy Maxwell Harawa went through unopposed.
The contest for the directorate of agriculture and food security was also for the well read. Ambassador at large Ben Dzowela outsmarted N.F Lungu to the post with 799 votes against 426 votes. His deputy Henry Midiani, a parliamentarian, came in unopposed.
Another surprise of the night was on position of national youth director. Presidential advisor Henry Moyo faced opposition from former music promoter Ken Zikhale Ng’oma, businessman Brian Bowler, activist Gerald Johnstone and Central region youth director Shabani Kadango.
Bowler outfoxed them all. He got 1,012 votes. Moyo came second with 184 votes. Kadango had 46, Ng’oma 35 Johnstone10. His deputy is Machinga Likwenu MP Robson Jangiya. He defeated Sports and Youth Minister Henderson Mabeti, youthful parliamentarian Roy Comsy and little known Steve Chikago with 572 votes against 212, 116 and 331 votes respectively.
Hanjahanja mandated the new executive to choose people to fill positions of committee members so that they are evenly spread out to all regions and districts.
|
