Make Malawi first, Chilima sets conditions for alliance
UTM Party president and State vice-president Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima has set conditions for him and his party in discussing any political allaunce, saying it will be about making Malawi first.
Chilima said his party is already in alliance with some parties such as People’s Progressive Movement (PPM) of Mark Katsonga and Mafunde but that if it were to go into grand alliance with other major parties, he would welcome such as long as they have a common agenda.
There have been fevered speculation that UTM could discuss with main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was panic-willing to lure Chilima in the alliance.
But Chilima said: “We are always ready to work with others as long as we can accommodate one another. It will also depend on our motivation for that alliance. So, yes, an alliance is possible.”
The UTM Party leader, who is the country’s vice-president after being reinstated by the Constitutional Court which annulled last year’s presidential election, tinsisted that UTM will be there “whether there will be an alliance or not. The party has leaders.”
While UTM is open to talk to DPP, MCP and other parties, Chilima declined to shed more light on what role he would play should the alliance materialise.
“If we are going into an alliance and I front a position for myself, I should be faulted,” he said, adding “If we start by placing leaders, the agenda will be lost.”
Continued Chilima: “ Let us discuss first what we want for this nation, how we will achieve it, and finally which leaders will take us there.”
Political analyst Mustapha Hussein of Chancellor College, a constituent college of the University of Malawi, cautioned UTM and DPP to tread careful with their supporters if they are to enter into alliance talks.
“Well, we are yet to see how this will end, it is well and good as long as there is clarity on the objectives. It will not be surprising because we know the leader of the UTM came from DPP.
“However, there is need for both sides to consult their supporters otherwise if it is only done at the top without input or without the blessings of the supporters then it might be a weak alliance and some may end up leaving the parties. We expect more stories of such alliances as we move close to the time the court ordered for fresh elections,” he said in quotes reported by Malawi News on Saturday.
Commenting on the issue, social and political commentator Emily Mkamanga said: “It is high time the leadership in Malawi took Malawi first. This can even stop the problem of abject poverty from escalating. In fact, when looking at the worsening poverty in the country, one wonders whether the leadership takes Malawi first.”
During the campaign for the May 21 2019 elections, both MCP and UTM went to town castigating the DPP leadership, arguing it is a government that is marred by corruption, nepotism, tribalism and “thieves”.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
I support DPP-UTM alliance…go for that Dr. SCK and we will vote for you otherwise you better stand alone we will still be on your side Sir more especially on elections day koma zopita ku MCP’zo nde ayi
Chilima is back to the VP position which he got through electoral fraud in 2014 together with DPP.
I doubt if he has trully changed and if he really wants to put Malawi first.
I have been following the prior to and the aftermath of the elections. From the way things moved before the elections the DPP might have invested much in destroying the strong holds of their enemies especially the UTM who seemed to enjoy the favour from Malawians, at least across the country and not only in one region. DPP was smart it did not concentrate only on presidential but much on the stronger shadow MPs. This DPP move didn’t spare Atupele. Atupele thought it was obvious to win so his thinking put him in a slumber mode. He slept. For DPP,… Read more »
You were number 3 in the last elections and perhaps with more votes added to you! You think you can bully everyone around you. After all you only have 4 members of parliament and you still believe you are a strong contender! Please go solo with the alliance you already have simple. Font cause other parties to fear you. All what we know is that UTM is simply and DPP camp.
chakwela have 79 MPs why not in state house
All what Chilima is saying is that he wants to lead as his message portrays! My advise to political parties Is that please leave this guy alone! To say right things is different from doing them. What he says is true but that’s what happens in very negotiation. My view is that the guy has until now not yet found strong reasons that compelled to join politics. We need to first see a political leader in Saulos Chilima not just a critics.
SKC: The best noise I have heard from any leader since the ruling. May it translate into real action Sire! Otherwise this “attitude” of forgetting who hires and pays politicians wages has left Malawi poorer than it was before the dawn of what’s termed “democracy”. Btw, “minister” is defined as “servant” how many are actually serving, or served is another story..
Why is he talking about an alliance? Loser
Ndikanakhala chilima,ndikanadziwa kuti pano amalawi ambili diso liri pa iye kufuna kuvotera.many malawians.Koma ngati apange agwirizano ndi DPP,eshiii uku timati kutaya bomwetamweta.More people will opt for MCP.Please a Chilima iyi ndi thawi yanu…….koma mukhoza kusemphana nayo makapanga ma decisions ofoyira.DPP anthu ambiri sakufuna kuvaso za dzina limeneli pachibwerezachi……..achuluka chinyengo
Mphwanga ukunamatu. This stupid conclusion can only come from a stupid mind. Who said DPP has no followers?
This alliance things will just confuse and bring more trouble to people.
Let the favourite wins.
We know our leaders are Power hungry.
After elections the alliance wont stand.
The level of shallowness in the comments below is breathtaking, i guess SKC is making people anxious!
Some of Us are just being Realistic…If we are Going to Use first Past the Post …Again …..It makes Sense to Form Alliances Now but if We are going to Use 50+ 1 ….then Alliances will be with number one and two….Sinanga titomuziwa Chilima kuti Sangalole kukhala Vice in an Alliance ….