/ 15 February 1999

NEW MALAWIAN ALLIANCE

A NEW political alliance seeking to oust President Bakili Muluzi at elections on May 18 was formally launched at a weekend rally, with a pledge to end hunger in Malawi. The alliance is between the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) of the late former dictator Kamuzu Banda and the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), which has strong support in the north of the country. MCP leader Gwanda Chakuamba, the alliance presidential candidate, told about 5000 supporters in Blantyre that his priorities will be employment and food.He accused Muluzi, who ousted Banda in 1994 elections, of presiding over economic decay in the southern African country.