By Burnett Munthali
The President of the Alliance for Democracy (Aford), Rt Hon. Enoch Kanzingeni Chihana (EKC), today, September 13, 2024, officially opened the party’s Elective Convention at the Golden Peacock Hotel in Lilongwe. The convention, a key event for Aford’s future political direction, brought together party members and leaders from other prominent political parties in Malawi.
In his opening address, President Chihana made a strong commitment to ensuring that Malawi is not “taken back to colonialism” by continuing as a nation reliant on foreign aid. He emphasized the importance of building a self-sufficient nation and expressed his government’s dedication to ending the cycle of dependency. “We will make sure that as a nation we are not taken back to colonialism by being a begging country,” he asserted.
Chihana further highlighted his government’s priority to ensure food security at the household level, emphasizing that food availability and sustainability will be a cornerstone of his administration. “We will make sure that every household in Malawi has food security. This is non-negotiable,” he said.
The convention was attended by key political figures from across the political spectrum, signaling potential unity among opposition parties. Among the notable attendees were Hon. Newton Kambala of the United Transformation Movement (UTM), Hon. Peter Mukhito and Hon. Shadreck Namalomba of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), as well as representatives from the United Democratic Front (UDF), People’s Party (PP), Petra, and Freedom Party.
The presence of these prominent political figures underscored Chihana’s vision of building alliances with other parties to create a stronger, more united front. His call for collaboration among opposition leaders was a central theme of the convention, reinforcing Aford’s commitment to safeguarding Malawi’s democratic values and national independence.
With slogans like “#thevoiceofdemocracy” and “#timehascome” echoing throughout the event, Aford’s Elective Convention set the stage for the party’s strategy as it prepares for the 2025 general elections. The convention aims to shape Aford’s leadership and policies, while also seeking to unite political forces to bring about meaningful change for the people of Malawi.
