By Chisomo Phiri
United Transformation Movement (UTM) General Secretary Patricia Kaliati says the party expects to rake in more votes during the 2025 general elections than the one million it secured during the 2019 general elections.
Kaliati was speaking in Lilongwe on Saturday November 18,2023 where the party welcomed 17 new members that joined from Alliance for Democracy (AFORD).
She said UTM has been on the political scene for a long time now, unlike in 2019 when it had only existed for a year.
“As a new party, our president (Saulos Chilima) garnered one million votes. And, today, as people are coming in we expect more than a year, “said Kaliati.
She added that the difference between UTM party and other parties is that UTM is a national and not a regional party.
Kaliati stressed that what they are doing is for UTM and its leader, Dr. Saulos Chilima and not Alliance.
In his reaction, AFORD Secretary General Elias Wakuda Kamanga said those that left had exercised their freedom of association.
“AFORD as a party, our journey continues and it can’t be a journey without casualties. Whoever has left were not intended for this tough journey because it is a journey for the toughest,” he said.
Those that joined UTM include AFORD’s former director of events Nancy Matupa, former national treasurer Jones Makuya and ex-director of logistics, Ellard Chapotera.
UTM is a key partner in the governing Tonse Alliance that booted out the opposition Democratic Progressive Party-DPP in the court sanctioned presidential poll in June 2020.
But there are now serious uncertainties and seemingly power struggle on the future of the Alliance as officials from UTM and its key partner, Malawi Congress Party have on several occasions engaged in heated debates and confrontations
This began last year after Chilima publicly told the nation that his power deal with Chakwera stipulates he will lead the Alliance after Chakwera’s five year term.
 General Secretary Patricia Kaliati says the party expects to rake in more votes during the 2025 general elections than the one million it…){kind=link}