Analysts predict Tonse power struggle
Political analysts are predicting of a fierce power struggle should the opposition Tonse alliance make it into the government after the court sanctioned presidential election.
This follows speeches at Njamba Freedom Park in Blantyre where the alliance held its rally ahead of the elections.
One of the analysts, Latim Matenje said the speeches at Njamba rally pointed at a looming power struggle in the alliance.
“Probably it is because the other officials are not aware of the agreement, this is what everybody talked about power,” he said.
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) vice president Sidik Mia said he would be in government once Tonse alliance wins the election, saying he has vast experience in running government affairs having been a Cabinet minister in several administrations.
UTM vice president Dr Michael Usi also talked of getting a portion of power in the Tonse alliance government.
Usi, however, advised the alliance against bickering and being greedy pricks for power or wrongful self-enrichment.
In his speech the country’s estranged Vice-President—who is also UTM Party president— Saulos Chilima said he would be minister of Finance apart from the portfolio of the state vice presidency should Tonse Alliance form the next government.
Chilima also disclosed that the leadership of the alliance will be rotational.
“I will be the next presidential candidate after Dr. Lazarus Chakwera,” he said.
His sentimentswere partly corroborated on the same podium by Chakwera, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president leading the nine-party Tonse Alliance.
Chakwera confirmed Chilima will doubleas Minister of Finance but did not comment on the rotational presidency arrangement.
A political analyst George Phiri said the speeches point to the fact that the Tonse alliance want to get into the government for power and positions.
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I agree with the writers observations that the Njamba speeches might be sign for looming power struggles once Tonse Alliance ascends to presidency of our beloved country come the Fresh presidential elections. isolating the power transfer statement alone made by Chilima that he (Chilima) will be Torch bearer after Chakwera brings to me a wave of shock as it seems to be the ignition key to all sorts of in house fighting in the Alliance because the statement, no matter how true it is as per existing agreement, has a fixed candidacy policy tone in it, lacking that fluidity sense… Read more »
Change always comes with a price and the secret lies in how to manage that change. We cannot get things changed for the perceived better if we fear the unknown.
There is indeed likely to be power struggle regardless of whichever alliance succeeds in Malawi’s current scenario and the author of this article knows it
Every one knows that politics is about power sharing in the running of governments affairs. This is the essence of joining political movements or parties to partake in running government institutions after securing power through elections. This is what DPP or any opposition parties are after if they retain power or if MCP and UTM wins power obviously they will share cabinet positions equally and diplomatic postings and parastatals and everything else that entails government. It is a fact that every Alliance partners in Tonse grouping if they win the rerun elections will vie for jobs in government that have… Read more »
Fearing the unknown. There’s nothing new here. Conflicts are not new where they’re two people. What matters is how you handle them.
Alliances or no alliances conflicts will be there. So this cannot stop us from trying something new. Some people are laggers, they will always fear change.
To all malawians, in all parties, there are some politicians who want everything for themselves.In DPP, they are called zilombo, greedy individuals,In UDF they are there,in MCP they are there and in UTM too they are present. It’s up to the leaders to put citizens first and deal with anyone who will try to bring problems.But for DPP and UDF leaders we already know them.No politician is righteous.We look for better politicians . Where there are different people sipalephera mavuto.Bingu adathawa ndi upresident.Atupele has come to take what belongs to UDF.I love the game of politics that needs to think… Read more »
What was the prediction of the late Bingu when Mluzi was busy campaigning for him? Predictions were Bingu to be Mluzi’s puppet once voted into power, did it happen? A big NO, why? It’s the strength and the vision-genuineness of the leader himself that matters. If the top leader/s of the alliance will do what the people expect them to do then it’s ok, we don’t need alliances, we need selfless leadership fullstop. What’s worrying me most now is the fact that some of the analysts themselves are in a desperate want of the alliance to fail instead of advising… Read more »
I am afraid your points are so incoherent. The analogy you have applied in your statements are even so tragic to “reason”. The sooner you political supporters realise the fact that politicians will never be a solution our problems, the better. Perhaps more energy will be applied in productive activities than political bickering and what not. Ours, as a country, our problem is mainly weak institutions. It is more attractive to extract economic rent (this is the goal of these politicians) than engage in value adding activities. Politicians will fight tooth and nail just to have access to government funds,… Read more »
But Mr Partriot, as much as my reasoning is tragic, that makes the both of us, ofcourse the solution to our problems are not politicians but ourselves, at the same time we need leaders because all of us can’t be leaders then who is going lead who? If so, then who should be the leaders- chiefs or pastors?
Maybe, you should have said the whole system need an overhaul, udf and dpp have been there and failed so should we continue with the same failures because all politicians can’t be trusted?
Point is to Change the exist group of thieves, VOTE UTMCP
What you are forgetting is the in MCP except for Chakwera and very are also certified thieves. They know the system just too too well. Whilst Chakwera is trying to learn I promise you they would have stolen. It’s extremely unfortunate that as a country wholeheartedly we are out of options. Those people in MCP are there through alliances and their best bet is to plunder immediately they get in because their future is not guaranteed. Only Chakwera and a few will be genuinely trying to build MCP as a brand. Actually maybe even Mbakuwaku is a better option in… Read more »
Those who can’t see these power struggles in TONSE alliance, atutumuka – not long from now.
Malawi is in a precarious situation. On one hand is a regime which favors one tribe, the Lomwes, and if reelected will for sure “slay” all who worked against them in all ranks (Judges be warned). On the other hand is a power hungry grouping (a coalition) whose only uniting point and purpose is to get rid of the incumbent. Beyond this factor there is nothing further to unite them. The new dialect in Hegelian terms would be Chakweras team being the “thesis” and Chilima team being the “antithesis”. We should for sure expect more conflict a year or two… Read more »
You are spot on @Patriot. Not many think like you. The solution for Malawi does not lie with the politicians but rather with the citizenry themselves. Unfortunately no one sees himself/herself as a solution and we instead waste time looking up to these people who are all the very root cause of our problems
Dr Cassim Chilumpha said it that the alliance is composed of greedy politicians.If this Alliance is put in government Malawi will be milked to the end and Malawians will be on fire.
Blood shaders and power hungry alliance,Malawi is doomed with this group in gvt. Everyone wants position of authority for what?
Especially Chilima please throw him away when Tonse wins. More over he is of borrowed origin. Where are his parents?
His origin has nothing to do with it but his insatiable appetite for power. At this point in time he should let Chakwera shine koma ayi ndithu