Hon. Patricia Kaliyati Denies Misleading Kabambe on Electoral Alliance with DPP

The collapse of the DPP-UTM electoral alliance talks 3 weeks ago has sparked debate and continue to widen the gap between the two parties amidst finger pointing as to who is responsible for lack of progress in the negotiations.

Speaking to journalists at her Nkando resistance in Mulanje on Wednesday 20 August, 2025, Hon Patricia Kaliati hit back at DPP national director of women Hon Mary Navicha for lying to the nation that Kaliati was to blame for futile talks aimed at forming an alliance ahead of the September 16 elections.

Kaliati wondered how a mere advisor could prevent her party and the president from reaching a consensus with erstwhile DPP. Both DPP and UTM supporters view such alliance as a viable option to remove a failed and corrupt regime from power. ‘my role has limit, being an advisor, I did not participate in the talks, therefore it is inconceivable to be blamed or accused of misleading utm leader ” said Kaliati.

Hon Patricia Kaliati did not mince her words and was quick to put the blame squarely on DPP’s door. This public spat between Hon Kaliati and Hon Mary Navicha was ignited by the latter’s speech a week ago at a rally she addressed in Phalombe where she claimed that Kaliati failed to advise properly UTM President Dalitso Kabambe on alliance negotiations.

According to an audio clip from that rally which has gone viral , Navicha could be heard accusing Kaliati of misleading Kabambe resulting in failure to sign electoral alliance agreement. She said that Kaliati favours her party’s alliance with the ruling party, an allegation which she (Kaliati) vehemently denied.

Ironically, Hon Patricia Kaliati served as DPP national director of women which Hon Mary Navicha currently occupies and both served as gender minister when DPP was in power.