By Evance Chisiano

Zomba, May 20, Mana: United Transformation Movement (UTM) Party on Sunday welcomed former United Democratic Front (UDF) Vice President for the Eastern Region, Hasheem Banda, and other UDF and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members into the party.

UTM Secretary General, Patricia Kaliati, welcomed Banda during a party meeting held at Chinamwali Ground in Zomba City where she claimed that other 50 UDF members also defected to UTM.

Kaliati said the party will continue receiving members from other parties to ensure that all interested members are given chance in the party.

“Apart from Hasheen and 50 members from the UDF, we have also received 17 members from DPP,” Kaliati said.

She said the party is set to form the next government in the 2025 general elections and called on young people above 18 to apply for National Identification and get registered once voter registration starts.

“We will distribute campaign materials (wrappers and t-shirts) to those that will get register for the general elections,” Kaliati added.

Banda announced his resignation from the UDF recently through a presser but declined to say the party he intended to join.

He said this was his memorable time in his political career having joined the UTM.

“This is my greatest moment in my political career. I have joined the UTM,” he said, adding that there are many UDF supporters that have followed him to UTM.

Banda contested for a Zomba Central parliamentary seat in 2019 and lost to DPP’s Bester Awali.

He said he will also contest in the 2025 parliamentary race on a UTM ticket.