Southern region UDF supporters want Atupele Muluzi to stand as 2025 presidential elections candidate

By Chisomo Phiri

On Saturday, Southern region members of the United Democratic Front (UDF) marched from Kamuzu upper stadium to Atupele Muluzi’s residence in Nyambadwe,Blantyre where they delivered a petition to push him to contest at the convention next year and take over the party’s leadership ahead of 2025 general elections.

This follows an announcement by the party’s president Lilian Patel who disclosed she will not contest for the top job at the party’s indaba.

The members said the country needs a corrupt free, patriotic and sober minded leader hence their option for Atupele.

“When he announced that he wanted to take a break from politics, we accepted.

“However, after one year, we have decided to ask him to return and lead the party,” said Dorothy Masinga, the party’s regional governor for south.

Receiving the petition was Muluzu’s wife Angella as his husband was not present.

In her words, Angella said she will give the petition to her her husband who is currently outside the country.

Meanwhile, one of the country’s political analysts and academician Dr. Enerst Thindwa is urging Atupele Muluzu to accept the supporters’ call and enter into an alliance with another popular political party if he is to create a smooth way to win in the 2025 general elections.

Says Tindwa:”His calculation is that if he can get hold of UDF leadership, he will be able to negotiate with a possible party to win an election and surely in 2025, it will be between MCP and DPP.”

In May last year, Atupele wrote the party’s secretary general Kandi Padambo that he had reigned from his position as UDF leader to venture into business.

He appointed Lilian Patel to take over from him as the party’s acting president.