Mutharika hits at Chilima, rejects owing 2014 victory to veep
President Peter Mutharika has rejected claims made by his second in command, Vice-President Saulos Klaus Chilima , that Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) could not have won the 2014 polls without him on the ballot paper.
Chilima said on Saturday at a UTM rally at Chule Primary School in Dedza in reaction to sentiments from the governing DPP that he is ungrateful. He argued that it is the DPP that is unappreciative of his role in the 2014 polls.
The VP said the DPP used to come to him many times in 2014 pleading with him to take up the running mate position while he was working with Airtel as its chief executive officer.
“I helped them and they won. What they are saying now is just noise in my ears,” he said, adding that this time around, he will concentrate on selling UTM and his candidature so that UTM gets into government.
But President Muntharika has since dismissed the claims during a stop-over meeting in Kasungu on his way to Mzuzu, saying he was the one desperate to be Mutharika’s running-mate.
Mutharika claimed that he once chased away Chilima after he sneaked into Mutharika’s house at Area 10 to discuss the running-mate issue way before the party settled for him. He claimed someone, who he did not disclose his identity, tipped Chilima that he was on the list of 15 potential people being considered running-mate.
“Someone leaked that to him and the next thing he was at my gate in Area 10 to discuss the running-mate issue. I asked what is he doing here? I refused to meet him. I chased him away,” claimed Mutharika.
Mutharika said Chilima only got the position after he and others settled to have someone from the private sector as running-mate.
The President also called on Chilima to stop boasting that he was behind DPP’s victory in 2014, saying he was only with the party for six months and the areas where he campaigned in the Central Region DPP performed miserably
He said the DPP won because it laid a proper ground work ahead of the polls and that it will win again without Chilima.
“Other political parties warned me about making this stop here in Kasungu, saying that they own the district and that no one will welcome me but am really impressed as you still have trust in me and DPP,” said Mutharika.
President Muntharika then assured people of his commitment to develop the country and ending poverty through programmes such as Social cash transfer and the Malata,Cement subsidy initiative.
Government is accusing Chilima of practicing opposition politics while serving in a government position.
The fallout between Chilima and his boss Peter Mutharika follows the VPs dumping the ruling party and is leading new party UTM in whose ticket he will be bidding for the presidency during next year’s elections.
The two sides have been at loggerheads trading accusations on corruption, among others.
Muntharika is expected to attend a graduation ceremony of the University of Livingstonia on Saturday at Mzuzu Stadium.
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Ndoda iyi njabodza. Do you know what to chase means? Mbava izi nzosafunika. Tikonze dziko adayamba kwononga Bakili Buluzi. Awa kuba ndi Zameer. Magetsi pano awonjeza.
The simple question Professor is that why did you outsource? What did you see in him? At that crucial time when you were desperate why you didn’t take the gogos from DPP cos you had a lot of people, all who are barking today were there why you didn’t pick one of them? There is something you saw in that youngman that you’re not telling people. Thank God that He used you to unearth this leader to the nation of Malawi. Thanks Sir.
DPP ili mumavuto speech ya mukuti APM to Mzuzu there is no substance
Malawians are desperate for Chilima indeed bcoz APM & DPP have messed up our country big time mdowe mdowe zokhazokha mdziko muno kuba kopanda nako manyazi the whole President kulowa K145 million ku account kwake nkumati samadziwa sourse ya ndalamayo mpaka kutapa ndikugwiritsa ntchito ndalamazo aaah Malawi Alibe Mtsogoleri Amangwetu.
Something somewhere is not adding up. So SKC within an arrangement of 2 months, decided to resign from a well-paying job (for a non-existent political dea?), made efforts to meet a party in opposition which was not even willing to take him on board? Did he even serve in lieu of….? It raises more questions than answers. But obviously sounds like a story of a “bitter divorce”
SKC then is a probably a very careless risk taker……….
Mr Mutharika please be careful before you spew insults in Chilima’s way before we question your own judgement. You must have seen something in Chilima to choose him as your running mate. If you think you made a mistake then we must question your judgement as a leader. No one had put a gun against your head to nominate Chilima as a running mate. Now you’re saying he is bad news.
Abwana President Professor Peter Mutharika, osamavutika ndikumamuyankha Pumbwa. Mungomuuza kuti unandithandiza kuwina eti, pano onetsa ukatswiri wakowo uwine wekha. Iye sanaone mmene research yatulukira? Azadziwona yekha
Mr president dont panic too much plz elections are around the corner, dont make the same mistake ur brother did 😩😩😩 we r just celebrating the victory of our new party and new president come 2019
zilotani choncho. its just a dream for u. u will continue to be an opposition party come 2019
Then why did you pick him to be your running mate,why did you not put somebody from your party dpp and this time why are you going for Atupele an outsider why not use your own.All your noise APM does not make any sense with this backup
The question you should be asking yourselves is why did Muthalika bring Chilima two months into the elections? Why didn’t he appoint people within his on party. and it is also not true that Mutharika was warned not stop in Kasungu, he has stopped in Kasunga several times. A few months ago he stopped at the same place on his way from Mzuzu. Kunama bwanji madala.