US embassy cable - 04LILONGWE798

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000798 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, PINR, MI, United Democratic Front, Political 
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION NDA MERGES WITH RULING UDF; MPINGANJIRA 
EYEING 2009 
 
REF: A. LILONGWE 559 
 
     B. 03 LILONGWE 696 
 
1. (SBU) After only one year as a registered political party 
(and over three years of strong anti-United Democratic Front 
opposition), Brown Mpinganjira's National Democratic Alliance 
(NDA) has de-registered and merged with the UDF.  The party's 
August 9 decision to join the ruling party, which according 
to the press has not gone over well with the NDA's 
grassroots, comes after party president Mpinganjira announced 
the party's support for the UDF on June 18 (reftel A). 
 
2. (SBU) On UDF Chairman (and former President) Bakili 
Muluzi's recent whistle-stop tour "to thank the party's 
supporters," Mpinganjira stood faithfully by Muluzi's side in 
what appeared to be an attempt to re-introduce the party's 
formerly wayward son.  To avoid having their seats declared 
vacant for "crossing the floor" by changing political 
parties, the NDA parliamentarians plan to remain independents 
in Parliament. 
 
COMMENT 
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3. (SBU) Mpinganjira, who was the UDF's most likely 2004 
presidential candidate when he was expelled from the party in 
2000, fell out of favor with then President Muluzi when he 
would not support Muluzi's bid for a third presidential term. 
 The creation of the NDA and opposition to the UDF that 
ensued were meant to attract Mpinganjira presidential votes 
in the 2004 elections.  After a dismal defeat (winning less 
than 9 percent of the vote), Mpinganjira has likely assessed 
the UDF's recent discontent with President Mutharika as his 
opportunity to position himself as the UDF's 2009 
presidential candidate.  In the meantime, the NDA's 
disgruntled grassroots supporters will likely align 
themselves with other opposition parties. 
RASPOLIC