Ibrahim Matola is a liberal

Liberalism

Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...

 politician from Malawi

Malawi

The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...

. Matola currently serves as the leader of the opposition United Democratic Front

United Democratic Front (Malawi)

The United Democratic Front claims to be a liberal party in Malawi and is mainly strong in the southern region populated by ethnic Yao. Until 2009 the party was a member of Liberal International, which it joined at the latter's Reykjavík Congress in 1994...

 in the National Assembly of Malawi

National Assembly of Malawi

The unicameral National Assembly of Malawi is the country's legislative body. It consists of Members of Parliament from each constituency. They are more commonly addressed as "Members of Parliament" or "MP's"....

.

National assembly

As the leader of the UDF in the National Assembly, Matola has criticized the government for ignoring the concerns of the minority parties. Though the UDF was the governing party from 1994 to 2004, it currently the second largest opposition party with only fifteen out of the one hundred ninety four seats in the National Assembly. He has expressed concern that Malawi is returning to a one–party system. He has been vocally critical of the leadership of the majority Democratic Progressive Party

Democratic Progressive Party (Malawi)

The Democratic Progressive Party is the ruling political party in Malawi. The party was formed in February 2005 by Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika after a dispute with the United Democratic Front....

, accusing them of "raping the country". During some particularly contentious debates, such as the debate regarding whether to change the Flag of Malawi

Flag of Malawi

The current flag of Malawi was adopted on 2010, after the Democratic Progressive Party-led government had proposed a new flag. The stripes were altered from the previous flag to match the original Pan-African Flag layout, with the red stripe at the top, the black stripe in middle, and the green...

, Matola has participated in walkout

Walkout

In labor disputes, a walkout is a labor strike, the act of employees collectively leaving the workplace as an act of protest.A walkout can also mean the act of leaving a place of work, school, a meeting, a company, or an organization, especially if meant as an expression of protest or disapproval.A...

s of minority party members.

During debates in the National Assembly he has clashed with George Chaponda

George Chaponda

Dr. George T. Chaponda born , is a Malawian diplomat and politician. He is currently the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs....

. Matola has criticized Chaponda's record while serving with the UDP.

He has traveled to the European Parliament

European Parliament

The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...

 in Brussels and to the Parliament of the United Kingdom

Parliament of the United Kingdom

The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...

 in Westminster

Westminster

Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...

 for the International Parliamentary Seminar.

Political positions

Matola has adovated for the rights of farmers in Malawi. He has also raised concerns that the Freedom of the Press

Freedom of the press

Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and published materials...

 in Malawi is being threatened.

Matola has repeatedly clashed with the national chairman of the UDF, Friday Jumbe. He led the UDF legislatures in a vote of no confidence in Jumbe and the election of George Nga Ntafu to replace him.

Matola has also attacked the 2011 Local Courts bill

Traditional Courts in Malawi

In Malawi a system of Traditional Courts have been used for much of the twentieth century to prosecute crimes and mediate disputes. The current government of Malawi has proposed an expansion of this system...

, arguing that it would provide too much power to local chiefs and could devolve into a "draconian system".