Atupele affirms Malawi presidential bid: UDF ‘new beginning’ not populist chants
President of United Democratic Front (UDF), Atupele Muluzi, who turns 40 this week, took his party to the rural heartland of Mangochi on Sunday drawing mammoth crowds after he reclaimed his position unopposed during a convention at Comesa Hall in Blantyre last week.
Atupele, who is Minister of Health in President Peter Mutharika’s Cabinet, said he is now gained political experience running in presidential elections and being in government and that his emphasis ahead of May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections is on a “new beginning” for the party and bring in new ideas.
Upbeat and energetic, Atupele said: “The change that sits within my plan is based on experience and understanding – not of populist chants.”
“I am all for ensuring that we establish policies that are based on the will of the majority, but at the same time, we need to ensure that we use resources we have to achieve real development, build real jobs and deliver effective and essential services for all,” added the young politician.
He hopes that, come 2019, his youth will be the force that propels him to election victory against all the odds.
“We are in a unique position and we must not waste it. We must now work together in a single direction – I would welcome the opportunity to lead you in that direction and guide us into once again governing Malawi with a stronger and more stable economy, real jobs for all and the provision of universal health care and education for all.
“Together we can make change happen and establish a new beginning for our country,” he said.
Atupele said the UDF convention was an important step as it provided the opportunity to establish its leadership for 2019 elections.
“We now have a national executive committee ready to take us beyond 2019, many of who are with me here today,” he said.
“The elections are only 9 months away. We have much to do to explain our plan to develop Malawi. At the heart of our vision is the need to establish real, sustainable and valued jobs. Jobs that will mean that we can feed our families, educate our children and care for our parents,” he said.
“No one wants to rely on handouts, on goodwill – it is not Malawian. We are a hardworking people that deserve to benefit from that hard work” said the UDF leader.
Atupele hopes to ride a wave of youthful optimism to victory, emulating Barack Obama, Emmanuel Macron and Justin Trudeau.
He stressed that UDF seeks a new beginning and will launch a vigorous campaign better than 2014 when he drew mammoth crowds with the ‘Agenda for change’ crusade that is now reset with ‘new beginning’.
Mwana uyu is well disciplined and can make good president .osati telala uja wokonda akazi a weni.Bravo AAM
First impression you get ukamva za Mangochi, Machinga, Balaka and Zomba ndi political bedroom ya UDF, Phalombe, Mulanje, Thyolo, Chiradzulu ndi nkhani ya DPP. Ntcheu and the whole central region political bedroom ya MCP, Northern region ndi political bedroom ya AFORD, take it leave it. kaya mwamva basi
Why divide the vote when UDF and UTM ideologies, pro-poor policies and developmental plans are all the same. The most sensible to do is doing forces and campaign as one party or in alliance. There is commonality between UDF and UTM than between UDF and DPP. Please young leaders, come to your senses and work as one unit and not be greedy with taking the presidential role. At this stage Chilima can be the torch bearer for the alliance party and then vice versa in 2024. Change the face of Malawi politics and not let it be about positions.
Atupele Austin Sasu Muluzi will not and can not be a running mate for inexperience frustrated greedy man who is after for president and even wishing APM could be dead before election which won’t and can’t happen to him. He is there to rule up to 2024 woooooo mwauponda……
I am very impressed with the crowd. Mind you this is not a party launch meaning all there were genuine UDF supporters. They didn’t go kukamva miyambi or names of corrupt senior govt officials. Come on Atupele and PP join madalamadala to lockout the South. Our only pride in Malawi is the presidency and if we lose we will become a useless region. Good example is Matebereland in Zimbabwe, during the colonial era Matebereland was an influential region and had Bulawayo as the country’s main commercial and industrial city. But when the Shonas took over they moved everything to Harare… Read more »
Mukatero basi Muzizati A mtundu wa Ujeni tikumane….Zachikale.Makobiri mukubao Mumadya Nokha.
Your vote lies in the Yao belt and expect to be the last once again next year. Your experience in government will be irrelevant – there is no way you can command any following in Central and Northern region like the young SKC has done. In politics it is a waste of resources to concentrate the campaign in your stronghold. You need to go to Lower Shire, Central Region and the Northern Region to win the hearts of the Thomases. SKC will be in Mangochi this week end and wait to see how he will pull the crowd and be… Read more »
This is a tribal party not for all Malawians
Every party has its political bedroom except UTM ..which will not survive the ballot box
Atupele is so humble and excellent character.He practices very clean politics despite undeserving insults from hate bent and jealous people.Carry on Atupele time will tell.
Very true, if we are to be objective, only Atupele seems promising.
I like it
Iwe Austin, if you try and walk it alone you know you wont win. Teaming up with DPP is like climbing on board a sinking ship headed for disaster, last time you tried MCP and it didnt work. You only have one option, and dont let Dad bully you away from it.
Atupele, u r not coming open, Kodi muyima as presidential candidate kapena musapota Agogo?
I doubt if ever you dee efu will regain its lost popularity. It’s now a party for Mangochi, Machinga and Balaka. Can Atupele win general elections with these three districts only. His father is the source of his political unmaking. Behind the scene DPP wants UDF obliterated on Malawi politics. Come next year, UDF will have less MPs than this year because of instability in thoughts of its leadership.