Chakwera, Chilima must make clear agreement—Expert
It appears President Lazarus Chakwera will not pave way for his deputy, Saulos Chilima, according to their “agreement” as rumoured all along following Malawi Congress Party (MCP) campaign director Moses Kunkuyu’s utterances that the former will likely go for the constitutional second and final term of office in 2025.
There have been heightening disagreements between MCP and UTM Party media teams on who would be Tonse Alliance torchbearer in the next elections.
Apparently, rumour has been rife that prior to their scheme to dislodge the former governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the two had agreed that Chakwera would rule for one five-year term and then Chilima would take over.
But, it seems, there was never such an agreement.
‘Chakwera to contest again’
Speaking during Kamuzu Day commemorations in Chirimba Township, Blantyre last week, Kunkuyu was upbeat that Chakwera would seek another term in the next presidential election.
His remarks have sparked controversy amongst Malawians, as prior to last year’s Fresh Presidential Election, Chilima, on record, mentioned that the presidency would rotate between the Tonse Alliance major partners, MCP and UTM Party.
The Tonse Alliance comprises nine other partners that include Alliance for Democracy (Aford), Umodzi Party (UP) and People’s Party (PP).
According to Kunkuyu, a former information minister in during the Joyce Banda administration before he formed his Transformation Alliance (TA) which he disbanded and joined MCP, “both the country’s Constitution and that of MCP allow Chakwera to seek another term.”
Much ado about nothing
Reacting to Kunkuyu’s remarks, UTM Party spokesman Frank Mwenifumbo said much as the former had the freedom to expression, his opinion did not have a bearing on his party.
Mwenifumbo urged MCP to concentrate on helping the two leaders to develop the country instead of focusing on politics.
“I just want to remind you that Dr Chilima has always appealed to Malawians to disengage from a campaign mode. We have just come from a campaign where too many promises were made and have to be fulfilled.
“We cannot make any comments on events that will take place in 2025. If anything, we are occupied with creating a very conducive environment for Dr Chakwera to implement and deliver what was promised. Matters of elections are not a priority now for UTM Party,” Mwenifumbo told The Nation.
‘Clear the mist’
Both political and administrative lecturer at the University of Malawi, Happy Kayuni, and political analyst, George Phiri, have asked MCP and UTM Party leaders to clear the mist on the said agreement on rotational presidency.
Kayuni said “the confusion [between UTM Party and MCP] is arising as a result of failure and Chilima to orient their stewards on the deal they signed.”
According to Kayuni, all structures within the Alliance “are confused on what message to send to the grassroots” and have now resorted to championing the causes of individual parties ahead of the 2025 elections.
While UTM Party is popular among Malawi’s youthful population, it has poor structures on the ground. The party has 5 parliamentarians against MCP’s 55.
Former governing DPP has the most MPs with a total number of 62.
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The confusion is self created by the media than anybody else……… All Chilima wanted in 2019 was to get lid of mbava zenizeni zija out of government…..Chilima is not power hungry as most of you in the media and some UTM fans want him to be. Chilima is fully aware that the constitution of our country says that you can not serve as a president or Vice President for more that two consecutive terms and yet some idiots are still stupid enough to overlook what the law says and write such articles like this one…….what for , what are trying… Read more »
Chilima is power hungry, he want to rule the country using tonse alliance machinery knowing that he can’t win on his own, besides, MCP imaufuna kwambiri ulamuliro ndiye mukudziwa bwino zomwe zimachitika mbuzi ikalawa zamchere, sisiya, its obvious chakwera cannot relinquish power, alola adane adane knowing kuti ndi term take yomaliza. With or without agreement, these two goats are useless. Just vote for me in the next elections.
MCP is bigger that UTM and there is no way we as MCP can succumb to UTM or Saulos demands. MCP has a very large following across the country. If UTM want, they should just disband and join MCP. We saw Uladi Mussa disbanding his Malavi Party. We Kamlepo Kalua disbanding his part MMD, we saw Amunandife Mkumba doing the same. I repeat to say that MCP cannot do that outside the convention. Chakwera does not operate outside the MCP convention and four cornerstones.
Can we start talking about politics in 2024. We must indeed not waste time on politics when the country is a sorry state in all aspects. The roads are very bad, the forests are being depleted, there is a lot of wastes accumulating, hospitals are in need of drugs and equipment, we need more schools, etc. We don’t mind who leads the country provided he or she makes Malawi great again.
Agrement yachani
The best thing is indeed to let the cat out. I think that it is about time for such a move now. People ought to know which is what cos as it stands as of this present time of course 2025 is far other great & potential leader might appear on the scene as I know that Malawi has got plenty of sons & daughters capable of leading our beautiful country to the next level BUT as of now it’s only Chilima & Chakwera that we can see as potential leaders that’s a lot of people NOT only MCP &… Read more »
On the principal I agree with Hon F Mwenefumbo. This is time to work for the good of Malawians. My brother Kinkuyu I am your fellow congregant we congregants need to be most humbled people in the Tonse government to lead by example. We should not cause an anarchy. Malawians will decide. Please detest from irresponsible comments which will plunge Tonse in the hot soup. For the sake of Malawians let us be humbled
We have the best President and best vice president. They are all aware why Malawians voted them into power. Malawians did not vote for kunkuyu. So let us not waste time with ‘ njala bwana’ boys. Come 3 years from today what he has said about 2025 will hit him back Sometimes ‘Njala bwana’ boys tries to be relevant when they are irrelevant.
Clear for who?? Its not even 1 year in office and people want to be discussing running mates?
Chilima knows about the future of the party.It is no more,he has to retire young.A life time VP.Nsima yoitaniridwa samwera nsudzi kkkkk
Can you say it again!
and
Again!