By: Our reporter

Over 250 members of the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) in Karonga on Monday joined the newly formed National Development Party (NDP) which is led by a renowned veteran politician, Frank Tumpale Mwenifumbo.

Among the defected include members from regional, district and constituency levels.

Karonga district chairperson for the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), MacKenzie Malema who led the group be welcomed by NDP officials at a colorful ceremony that was held at Karonga Museum Hall clarified that no-one has coaxed or bought them.

According to Malema, only NDP is active in the district and that they don’t want to be politically dormant hence the decision.

“We have joined the NDP on our own volition. Without hiding, there was nothing we were doing in AFORD despite the big position some of us have because the party is dormant on the grassroot. NDP is the only that is active and loved in Karonga. We therefore want to help NDP to win with landslide victory in the coming elections,” he said.

Malema further said that “if it was about money, we would not have joined NDP but big political parties like the ruling MCP or DPP which have almost everything. NDP is a new blood and does not have more resources but its ideologies are for the people.”

During the day, NDP also welcomed former chairperson for Karonga district council who is also ex-ward councilor for Chilanga ward, Patrick Kishombe.

Kishombe praised the interim leadership of NDP saying it consist of big brains and people with great development ideas hence his decision to join the party.

“I have made enough political searching and found out that NDP has visionary leadership,” said Kishombe.

He gave an example of the party’s interim president, Mwenifumbo saying he did wonders during his time as Minister of Agriculture during the late Bingu Wa Mutharika era.