The Alliance for Democracy is a political party in Malawi that marked its history as laying the foundation for multi-party rule in Malawi. It began as an underground political movement during the Kamuzu Banda era and later evolved to a political party during the multi-party era under the leadership of trade union activist, Chakufwa Chihana. AFORD has a stronghold in the northern region. The president is Godfrey Shawa. History AFORD began as an underground political movement under Banda's dictatorship under the leadership of trade unionist and political activist Chakufwa Chihana. He led an underground political movement that aimed at democratic multi-party rule. He was the first person to openly challenge the system. Therefore, he is known as the 'father of Malawian democracy' for his role in ushering in multi-party rule in Malawi. Many would argue that AFORD was officially registered and active "...21.07.93." The AFORD or Alliance for Democracy is now a political party whose mission under the leadership of Chihana was to reconstruct the economy, attract investors, and improve Malawi's infrastructure. The AFORD was opposed to furthering the reign of the autocratic leader Banda and sought rather to promote the idea of true democracy. Under Chakufwa Chihana's influence, the AFORD political party began initially as a pressure group because political parties were illegal for some time under the dictatorial reign of Hastings Banda. Though Malawi is located in the southeastern portion of Africa, a majority of the AFORD's power is concentrated in the northernmost regions of Malawi. AFORD's support is concentrated in the northernmost parts of Malawi for many reasons, including the fact that trade union leader Chakufwa Chihana was born in the Mhuju village. The combination of the MCP attacking the national credibility of AFORD by branding Chihana as a regional advocator and the momentary restriction of Chihana to Rumphi also contributed to why AFORD ‘s political strength lay almost singularly in northern Malawi One of the problems AFORD encountered in an attempt to expand its 33 constituencies in 1993 was its inability to collect enough signatures for its parliamentary candidates nor did there seem to be any “...suitable and credible candidates to run its platform outside the northern region...”. Multiparty general elections began in 1993. After the legislative elections concluded in the years 1993-1994, multiparty elections likely occurred in Malawi during the month of May in the year 1994 after Muluzi's United Democratic Front prevailed against Banda's