Mixed views on political electoral alliances

The prospect of formation of new political alliances in the country is attracting mixed views among the electorate ahead of next year’s general elections.

It is expected that the new political parties will then go into coalitions or form electoral alliances with some established parties.

Questions are therefore being raised on the interest of political parties when forming such alliances, with reference to the fall out of a nine member Tonse Alliance.

Commenting through Capital FM’s trending news program, some members of the public disapproved the performance of the Tonse administration arguing that it did not serve the interest of Malawians.

However, a well-known political analyst Nandini Patel told that new parties and alliances still have a chance to impress voters as long as they develop convincing manifestos.

“Political parties can regain public trust by forming alliances based on manifestos that are in line with the needs of voters. Alliances have not been sustainable both in pre and post-elections and this has cast a shadow of doubt on their relevance,” said Patel.

The current Tonse led administration won the 2020 fresh Presidential election to oust the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) from power, becoming the first alliance to be voted into power since the dawn of the democratic era.

However, the administration has had a rocky first term in office marred by corruption allegations among others which has become the basis of public distrust in the powers that be and most especially in alliances.

Recently, former President Bakili Muluzi made a call for the Tonse administration to remain focused on fighting corruption to achieve the MW 2063 agenda.