By Draxon Maloya
Two ward councilors in the city of Mzuzu namely Hiwette Mkandawire and Gabbitto Mwawungulu have joined United Transformation Movement (UTM).
Speaking at the official unveiling ceremony of the two councilors in Mzuzu on Wednesday the party’s Deputy Regional Governor for the Northern Region, Davie Botha said many people are joining UTM because of its democratic principles and sound manifesto.
“UTM is the only party with genuine democratic principles at the moment and that is the reason many people want to either work for the leadership which his very accomodative in the way it manages its party affairs,” Botha said.
Former Alliance for Democracy ward councilor, Hiwette Mkandawire said it is just a matter of time that he had to announce his intention to join UTM following the leadership struggle that has weakened the party to its death bed.
“Having withstand the pressure and all efforts to resasitate Aford, it seems some leaders do not appreciate views of other people, so when the worse comes to worst you don’t have any choice but to leave and join those who are transformative in their way of running affairs of their institution, this is democracy,” Mkandawire said.
Following the joining of the two ward councilors, the Mzuzu City Council is now having ten (10) UTM councilors from a total of 15 city councilors of which four (4) are MCP and one independent.
Political analysts have time and again advised UTM to make sure that it builds or strengthen its grass-root structures if it is to stand a better chance of winning the next presidential, partiamentary and local government elections.
Mkandawire has all along been a member of the Alliance for Democracy (Aford) while Mwawungulu rejoined UTM having dumped the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) which he joined seven (7) months ago in a run-up to the recent presidential election.
Earlier this month UTM also welcomed into the party an Aford member and former Karonga Central parliamentarian, Frank Tumpale Mwenefumbo.