Chilima poised to give Malawi ‘new direction’: Proposes Masangwi to be UTM patron
State Vice-President Saulos Chilima who has got the mandate as president of the new kid on the block, UTM Party, told its first-ever elective conference in Lilongwe on Monday evening that his party is set to reshape the future of the country and give it a “whole new direction’.
Chilima said in his acceptance speech after the conventionendorsed him as UTM’s torch-bearer in May 21 2019 tripartite election andelected office bearers as well as ratified the party’s constitution and part of its manifesto.
“We cannot continue in the ‘business-as-usual’ manner in which our country has been run,” said Chilima, 45, who is seen as a young challenger to President Peter Mutharika, 79, who won the election in 2014, two years after his brother, Bingu wa Mutharika, died while serving as president.
“Our calling is a call to service and to reclaim Malawi.”
He urged UTM leadership to be sacrificers but not butchers, saying they should take election as a call to serve.
“We are not here for self-serving,” stressed Chilima.
He added: “UTM is not about positions. Our calling is a call to service.”
Chilima paid tribute to founding chairperson Noel Masangwi, founding treasurer general Richard Makondi, Speaker of National Assembly Richard Msowoya, who did not vie for any position at the convention to pave way for others while pledging their support to the party.
He proposed that Masangwi should become UTM patron and other party founders will have different roles to play, acknowledging their contributions and sacrifices.
Among those he saluted includes Dr Ben Chidyaonga, Chikumbutso Hiwa, Richard Makondi, Lewis Ngalande, Mzimba North legislator Agness Nyalonje Shawa, Dr Michael Usi and Newton Kambala.
UTM was registered as a political party in October after the court ordered the registrar of political parties to register the party when he had rejected its applications because of the name.
The Vice-President broke ranks with the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on June 6 this year and declared he will challenge President Mutharika in the presidential race in the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections.
Chilima—whom Mutharika picked as running mate from the private sector in January 2014 where he served as Airtel Malawi managing director—had a visibly rosy relationship with the establishment until his declaration and the President subsequently stripped him his Cabinet portfolio of minister Responsible for Disaster Management Affairs and in-charge of National Public Events.
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I was only intrested on reading this because of my Prophet Major1 . I’m advising you to come as an international visitor on the Crossover, THE NIGHT OF THE OPEN DOORS.
Where are the much talked about youths in the UTM NEC? Is Lucius Banda still youth? Shame UTM – no youths and no northerners. You are dead. Bola a Dad omwewo.
AMALAWI
This thief greedy ….. we will jail it if it comes third advice we expect
Komaso Nyasa time kumanena zoona anthu wa sadawine koma Adabera mukadati it’s believed or they claim that….
Amalawi tiyeni tidzilimba mtima pa chilingamo… Mbendera cried , the man knew he was in avery difficulty position he died innocently. Akadangonena mowona kuti DPP SIDAWINE abera basi mwina bwenzi alipo..
Absalome iwe!!! so you still want to fight with your own DAD?????????? I still dont’t understand you if I were you Absalome I could have joined MCP and be behind Chakwera,. \now listen Absalome you are fighting a loosing game ALL your friends that looks like surpporting you will definetly leave you alone and you shall live a miserable life.
This guy is looking older than his age. Why?
Kodi convention inali ma elections of COSOMA? Kkkkkk chipani cha ma comedians and musicians hahahaha we will be led by a travelling theater? I have always thought Malawi is a joke and now I believe hahhaah
I personally dont think that Chilima is a right person for Malawi because he is doing this with anger and vengeance , people that surround him I barely not trust them old school thieves
Recycled politicians want to transform Malawi? mwakhuta chani?
This UTM party is full of school dropout comedians and you say this country has a future in UTM? Oo my God! When did manganya, winiko, ngumuya, shanil, kaliati, lucious banda, masangwi, kalinde etc etc became the voice of reason? This UTM bunch is the dullest entity ever.
Tsogolo lokuda lenilenui. A chi na Winiko, Manganya atsogoleri a dziko? kkkkkkkkkk
UTM convention was the dullest of all conventions. Same old recycled politicians – Kaliati, Masangwi, etc. Chilima’s acceptance speech was not inspiring at all. Better APM yemweyo basi.