The new President's main opponent could not beat him – so he joined him
Opposition darling Gwanda Chakuamba, leader of the Mgwirizano alliance, shocked Malawians by taking his Republican Party (RP) into the governing coalition led by the United Democratic Front government. Two weeks previously, Chakuamba lost the controversial presidential poll on 20 May (AC Vol 45 Nos 9 & 11) but had declared himself the winner before the results were announced. His former opposition ally, the Mgode party, followed him on to the government benches. Between them, they brought 19 members of parliament to add to the UDF's 49, plus six for the Alliance for Democracy (Aford), the UDF's coalition partner.
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