2005-is the year president Bingu wamutharika resigned from the United Democratic Front, a party that sponsered him and supported him to the presidency.
“To preserve the dignity of the office of the president and my own dignity, I have decided that effective from today, I am no longer a member of U.D.F” the president then said in front of politicians, diplomats, members of the clergy and many other dignitories. That was on the 5th of February 2005, corruption day, a year after being elected.
The missing quote was on the yellow cloth some women were wearing, and the yellow tie others that were quote unaware were putting on. By this time the president had completely stopped knotting the yellow tie as was the custom that time; UDF member UDF tie.
As for the cloth that you women are wearing, I guess you should continue wearing the same until we find the right cloth for you.’ The president continued amid ululation from the women.
For some days the government was running with no party but a group of people coming together to serve Malawi. Many political analyst commended the president for leaving U.D.F analysing that he was being bulldozed in the party as he was a mere member with no post. Others criticised the president of being ungrateful. Others prophesized the birth of a new party in the long run saying no government cannot run with no backborn.
To the fulfillment of the prophesy, weeks never passed and the Democratic Progressive Party was born.
By that time, the national assembly was dominated by independent members. Parties now had to fight to win the support of the independent members to control the house, the Obvious was that UDF would rally behind MCP as it had more members in the house than any other party. DPP was formed entirely with independent members and a few who had abandoned from the UDF. serve for the by election that saw DPP amass atotal of 6 seats.
It was a season of resignations. Then section 65 was seen as an axe to term the situation. Opposition ganged up for all resignees to be axed from parliament a thing that never saw the light of the day as there followed.court injuctions and cases.
The whole historical background wants to examine if independency in Malawi can exist and survive.
“There is nothing wrong with someone standing on an independent ticket. However it is wrong to hide behind the curtain of independency to cheat the people and later dump them principally, this is wrong” reasons Sydine Mkandawire, a Lilongwe based political analyst.
Mkandawire notes that people have found refuge on standing as independents and later leave there earlier decalered positions to political parties on selfish reasons ofbenefiting from the government of the day.
“What they say is that they will support the government of the day, I guess this is why section 65 came in to curb this malpractice.
But what are the chances of an independent member making it to the state house or the national assembly?
Christopher chamali views this years elections as the toughest in any parliamentary election depending on how people viewed the yet to be dissolved parliament achievements and feilures on development.
We might see a lot of independents being voted into parliament but for the presidency, asurprise is out of question, I see people voting on party lines than voting for an independent.
“Malawi registers three big parties fielding political heavyweights as presidential candidates for their parties which reduces the chances of independents severely, however on one is to be ruled out, it’s a matter of playing your cards well” Mkandawire says.
The May 19 general elections have registered the highest number of independent presidential candidates than any other elections conducted in Malawi. For the first time, a woman candidate is standing though as an independent.
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