Four political parties from the Northern Region have formed a working political alliance in preparation for the September 16, 2025 Local Government, Parliamentary and Presidential Elections.
The parties are Alliance for Democracy (Aford), Freedom Party (FP), National Development Party (NDP) and Solidarity Alliance.
Reports indicate that the alliance is set to be unveiled at a political rally to be held at Chibavi ground in Mzuzu on Sunday.
However, the alliance has not yet chosen a leader, as they are first consolidating ideologies and mapping working areas.
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NDP President Frank Mwenifumbo confirmed the development, saying the idea stemmed from calls from the people that Northern Region political parties should come together and form a political entity.
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Mwenifumbo added that the alliance would be open to a possible national alliance.
“We are very disjointed in the North and, as such, we have failed to propel the development agenda. So, the coming together of the four parties is in the spirit of approaching the elections as a single front. We will share ideologies and always speak with one voice,” Mwenifumbo said.
FP President Khumbo Kachali said the leadership of his party always respects the wishes of people when making political decisions.
The former vice president disclosed that he was happy that since the idea was made public, he had received overwhelming support from people, including traditional leaders.
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“Let the wishes of the people be heard,” Kachali said.
Solidarity Alliance President Victor Madhlopa said once their ideas are merged, they will elect a leader who will appear on the ballot or support other alliances.
However, despite agreeing with the move, Aford President Enoch Chihana said he might not attend the Mzuzu rally because he would be holding another rally at Mgona in Lilongwe on the same day.
Chihana, who said the alliance was good for northerners, said there must be more consultations, in terms of the partnership.
“Next time, we will be together as we started preparing for our Mgona rally sometime back,” Chihana said.
Mzuzu University-based historian and political commentator Chrispine Mphande said what he sees in the alliance is protection of Northern Region votes, which he said would likely decide the next President for Malawi.
“This means we are going back to 1994, where people voted according to region. The United Democratic Front (UDF) was mostly voted for in the Southern Region, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) in the Central Region while Aford amassed most votes in the North.
“So, these leaders want to seal the votes from the Northern Region because they know that the 50 percent+1 system can only be achieved by a party that will win more votes from the Northern Region,” Mphande said.
The Northern Region also has National Youth Alliance of Vasco Madhlopa and independent candidate Ras Chikomeni Chirwa, who are yet to make a stand on the issue of alliance.
