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Some UDF district governors and executive members from the South have written party chairman Bakili Muluzi to reverse instructions that district governors in the region should boycott President Bingu wa Mutharika’s rallies and discourage their members from going to any of the presidential functions.
The boycott, according to the executive members, is being effected as a protest against Mutharika’s way of governing where he is accused of not working in the interest of the party.
In a letter dated October 29, 2004, the executive members say the decision to stop people from going to Mutharika’s rally was arrived at during a meeting held three weeks ago at a cottage belonging to a UDF MP where district governors were given K10,000 $(93) each as night allowance.
“We are very lost since you as national chairman informed us to support your choice of Dr. Mutharika,” said the letter.
The correspondence also indicates that this is why few UDF members and no governor attended the Njamba Peace Prayers in Blantyre where both Mutharika and Muluzi were present.
“We feel the image of the party and its leadership is at stake,” stated the letter.
The letter also asked Muluzi to call for elections both at regional and district levels.
But regional governor (South) John Chikakwiya accused those that have written the letter of trying to bring confusion in the party.
“We know these people and we know what they are aiming at. They want to bring divisions between the chairman and the President,” said Chikakwiya.
He refused to confirm if the Mangochi meeting took place.
UDF Secretary General Kennedy Makwangwala said the letter will not be taken seriously because the complaint is being written straight to Muluzi.
“The right channel would have been for them to come to our office first before going to the chairman,” said Makwangwala.
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