Alliance for Democracy (Malawi)
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Alliance for Democracy | |
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President | Victory sign hand |
The Alliance for Democracy is a
History
AFORD began as an underground political movement under Banda's dictatorship under the leadership of trade unionist and political activist
Internal politics
AFORD as a political party began to decline due to internal politics within the party.[17] AFORD's influence slowly became increasingly isolated to the Northern Region.
Results of Elections 1994 - Present
Of the 3,775,256 registered voters in Malawi, 562,862 votes were in favor of the AFORD party's candidate, Chakufwa Chihana (TRIPOD). AFORD managed to rank 3rd with 18.89 percent of the votes in the 1994 presidential election.[18]
Of the 5,071,822 registered voters in Malawi, 2,106,790 votes were in favor of the AFORD party's candidate, Gwanda Chakuamba (TRIPOD). Gwanda Chakuamba represented the alliance between AFORD and the MCP political parties during the 1999 general elections (commonwealth). AFORD managed to rank 2nd with 45.17 percent of the votes, losing to Muluzi who won 52.38 percent of the votes in the 1999 presidential election .
The AFORD party did not have any representation in the 2004 presidential election considering Chihana was led to pull out of the alliance established in 1997 between AFORD and the MCP in the year 2002.[19] However, Chihana was permitted to be second vice-president of the Republic, while his colleagues were given ministerial positions ultimately leading to a split within the party in 2003. Some AFORD members branched off to begin the Movement for Genuine Democracy . During the general election of 2004, Chihana signed a coalition agreement on behalf of the AFORD party with the UDF political party of Malawi [20] The number of seats won by the AFORD political party in Parliament also decreased substantially over time with 36 seats won in 1994, 29 seats won in 1999, and 6 seats won in 2004.[21]
Of the 5,871,819 registered voters in Malawi, 20,150 votes were in favor of the AFORD party's candidate, Dindi Gowa Nyasula.[22] AFORD managed to rank last losing to the DPP's candidate, Bingu wa Mutharika, in the 2009 presidential election by acquiring .45 percent of the votes in 2009.[23] With the death of Chihana in 2006 and the results of the 2009 election, Joyce Banda is the 2009 vice president.[24]
In the year of 2014 Malawi's first tripartite elections were held making it the first time Malawians were able to vote for their local governments, members of parliament and president in a single election (commonwealth). The AFORD's political support is divided between Enoch Chihana, the son of AFORD's founder Chakufwa Chihana, and Frank Mwenefumbo. Of the 7 470 806 registered voters in Malawi, the DPP's presidential candidate Bingu wa Mathrika won with little to no opposition from the AFORD party. Secretary-General Gridezer Jeffrey argued that AFORD has lacked political representation in the 2014 election and possibly the upcoming 2019 election because AFORD can be described as an outdated party whose political support is concentrated in the small northern population of Malawi.[25] The AFORD political party has garnered more support in the years following the 2014 elections in the north specifically with Mwenifumbo as the head of the political party. Mwenifumbo's decision to join AFORD as opposed to the ruling party, DPP, was because “...he wanted to suffer together with Malawians...” led to a vow in 2017 to continue defending the welfare of Malawians in relation to the constitution [26] .
At the last general elections, 20 May 2004, the party won 6 out of 194 seats.
Presidents
- Godfrey Shawa 2012–present
- Dindi Gowa Nyasulu x - 2012 (retired)
- Chakufwa Chihana 1992-
Notable AFORD members
Electoral history
Presidential elections
Election | Party candidate | Votes | % | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1994 | Chakufwa Chihana | 562,862 | 18.89% | Lost ![]() |
1999 | None
(endorsed Gwanda Chakuamba) |
2,106,790 | 45.21% | Lost ![]() |
2009
|
Dindi Gowa Nyasulu | 20,150 | 0.45% | Lost ![]() |
National Assembly elections
Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1994 | 563,417 | 19.05% | 36 / 177
|
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1999 | 474,215 | 10.56% | 29 / 193
|
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2004 | 114,017 | 3.61% | 6 / 193
|
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2009
|
38,427 | 0.88% | 1 / 193
|
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2014
|
31,907 | 0.62% | 1 / 193
|
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2019 | 24,212 | 0.49% | 1 / 193
|
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References
- ^ "Malawi's political party dissolved, joins Aford - the Nation Online".
- ^ "Malawi opposition Aford president Gowa quits leadership, Shawa takes over | Malawi news, Malawi - NyasaTimes breaking online news source from Malawi". Archived from the original on 2012-11-29. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
- ^ "Chakufwa Chihana".
- S2CID 144083470.
- S2CID 144083470.
- JSTOR 3993221.
- JSTOR 3993221.
- JSTOR 23489778.
- ^ Adenekan, Shola (12 July 2006). "Obituary: Chakufwa Chihana". The Guardian.
- JSTOR 3993221.
- ^ "Violence threat in Karonga as Chihana hold political rally: Mwenifumbo calls for peace". Malawi Nyasa Times - Malawi breaking news in Malawi. 24 August 2018.
- S2CID 102491793.
- ^ "Ex-Aford president Dindi Gowa Nyasulu dies at 68". 2012-12-11.
- S2CID 102491793.
- ^ "Malawi: Dindi Gowa Nyasulu resigns". 9 January 2013. Archived from the original on 9 January 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ Kakande, Austin. "Frank Mwenifumbo challenges Chihana on AFORD presidency". www.mbc.mw. Archived from the original on 2020-06-17. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ^ "Chakufwa Chihana".
- ^ "Elections in Malawi". africanelections.tripod.com.
- ^ "MAKING, UNMAKING AND REMAKING POLITICAL PARTY COALITIONS IN MALAWI" (PDF). www.eisa.org.za.
- ^ "MAKING, UNMAKING AND REMAKING POLITICAL PARTY COALITIONS IN MALAWI" (PDF).
- ^ "MAKING, UNMAKING AND REMAKING POLITICAL PARTY COALITIONS IN MALAWI" (PDF).
- ^ "Elections in Malawi". africanelections.tripod.com.
- ^ "Elections in Malawi". africanelections.tripod.com.
- ISBN 9780810859616.
- ^ "DPP frustrated with the joining of Mwenifumbo to AFORD". www.maravipost.com. 2017-05-14.
- ISBN 9780810859616.