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Political commentators on Monday criticised UDF national chair Bakili Muluzi for taking sides in the UDF conflict, a development, they feared, will cause irreparable damage to the party.
Muluzi, as the head of the party, they said, should have avoided making public comments that throw out hints about his position regarding the UDF factions.
“The chair is not neutral, he has shown he is an interested party,” said Head of Governance and Democracy at the Centre of Social Research Nixon Khembo, who doubted that the UDF would recover even if outside intervention was sought.
“I do not see the party recovering because it is a mixed bag of sorts. There are people who do know who is friend and foe, some are foreigners who do not share the ideals of UDF, and others are just disgruntled. It’s total confusion and the house cannot hold,” he said.
Muluzi said Sunday on arrival from a three-week overseas holiday there is no way a government can survive without a political party which ushered it into power. The remarks come amid reports of a rift between the party and President Bingu wa Mutharika.
Khembo said the separation of state and party policy which Mutharika is pursuing is flying in the face of the former regime which had the tendency to abuse resources through corruption and cronyism.
“Muluzi’s protest represents a hankering for the past because it provided shelter for people who are getting exposed now to hide and commit atrocities,” said Khembo.
“But anyone interested in transparency and accountability should applaud Mutharika for what he is doing because it will bring ethical government. Those resisting this change have skeletons which they are trying to hide. Mutharika must get them all to account for every single tambala they took in the name of Malawians, party or no party.”
Human Rights Consultative Committee chair Rodgers Newa said Muluzi will not succeed to mediate between the sides which are spoiling for a fight because his statements and actions have already fanned tension.
“Muluzi has already shown his side, and it is against President Mutharika. Mutharika is separating between state and party matters. Muluzi thinks the contrary. Mutharika is discouraging handouts which Muluzi is still promoting,” said Newa.
Newa also blamed Muluzi for Mutharika’s resentment to attend UDF functions.
“How would Muluzi himself have reacted if he was a state president, but his party’s constitution was tailored in such a way that he should not hold any position in the party? Would he have smiled and attended party functions?
“Put it differently, did UDF supporters expect a president of the country to welcome a mere national chair of a party? What kind of protocol is that?
Newa said he expects the UDF to be divided between Muluzi and Mutharika’s supporters, a development, he said, is not good for the multiparty democracy in the country.
He noted that the current upheaval in the ruling party showed the UDF does not have conflict resolution structures.
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