Former governing People’s Party (PP) has pledged to remain in the governing Tonse Alliance until the 2025 Tripartite Elections despite misunderstandings and discontent which have seen some partners jumping ship.

The party’s secretary general Ibrahim Matola made the commitment at a press conference held in Lilongwe yesterday to welcome his predecessor Paul Maulidi back into the party after leaving in 2014.

Matola (R) and PP spokesperson Ackson Kalaile Banda wrap Maulidi in party colours

“Currently, we are still under Tonse Alliance. We have never denounced that and very soon we will be giving the stand as we are going forward,” he said.

People’s Transformation Party and the Alliance for Democracy have quit the alliance with Aford declaring it will pitch its own candidate in the 2025 presidential race.

Another partner, Umodzi Party, has repeatedly showed public discontent over the government’s handling of socio-economic affairs.

Responding to a question on how long PP will cling to the President Lazarus Chakwera-led alliance, Matola said: “Until we are there at the bridge of the 2025 elections.”

On Maulidi, Matola described him as a valuable addition to the party as he has “vast” political experience.

He said his return is a sign of the effectiveness of the party’s policy that persuades former members to return and new ones to join the fold.

Maulidi and PP severed ties in 2014 after he contested in the parliamentary by-elections which the party boycotted while questioning the credibility of the Malawi Electoral Commission to conduct free and fair elections.

Speaking after his unveiling, Maulidi said he rejoined PP despite his unceremonious departure because he believes the party has a future.

Tonse Alliance, which deposed Democratic Progressive Party in the court-sanctioned Fresh Presidential Election in June 2020, was a grouping of nine parties led by key partners Malawi Congress Party and Vice-President Saulos Chilima’s UTM Party.

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