‘Are you Saulos Chilima?’

February 11, 2015 Mtumiki Woyamba 80 Comments

“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly,” – Robert Kelly.

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked“Your vice president really left one of the topmost lucrative jobs in your country to pursue a career in politics?” I’m sure by now I would have retired and be living on a private yacht sipping margaritas somewhere along the beautiful beaches of the Atlantic Ocean.

Chilima: Reforms
Vice President Chilima

When I first heard that the Right Honourable Saulos Klaus Chilima (SKC) had resigned as Airtel’s Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O) to be Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika’s running mate I brushed it aside. Mind you, this was the time when everyone and their aunt in Malawi was playing reporter and ‘breaking news’ on the run up to the May 2014 tripartite elections.

An hour later a friend confirmed that indeed the flamboyant Mr. Money was going to be APM’s running mate. It was a shock to many. He pulled a surprise.

My immediate response was “that’s the end of him” and all my friends and foes alike concurred. “This is the beginning of his end!”

We weren’t the only ones who held such sentiments because in no time Facebook and Twitter Malawi erupted with similar posts.

I remember sitting next to the VP’s acquaintances at one of the popular bars in the capital, Lilongwe and eavesdropped them going on and on about how happy they were that SKC was going to give politics a shot. They argued that the guy is really smart but at the same time down to earth.

This amused them because apparently they knew that there was no way the Democratic People’s Party was going to bounce back into government. Of course, then it was just a rumor, but it was only a matter of time before we were all going to be proven wrong.

But who is SKC?

Ordinarily, for many Malawians, Saulos Klaus Chilima is Malawi’s incumbent flamboyant and youthful vice president who was born in 1973 and hails from Ntcheu and Lilongwe districts. One who went to Mtendere Secondary School and later attended Chancellor College.

He is an astute economist and a vibrant marketer who holds a Master’s degree in Economics and is about to conclude his PhD with Bolton University in the UK. They know him as devoted catholic who is married to Mary and has two children. That is how many know SKC as.

But Saulos Chilima is more than just that.

Well, to me here is an extraordinary witty gentleman. He is a risk taker. SKC is a noble man who is audacious, bold and valiant. He is a dare devil. He does not fear circumstances, he creates the circumstances for the good in life not only form himself but all and sundry.

Here is an individual who can give up everything almost for nothing. He is a fearless optimist who is not afraid of tomorrow and yet he is not bothered by his yesterday. He is a man full of surprises yet very ordinary. He is just a normal human being.

For me, most politicians in Malawi turn to politics for survival and at least to earn a decent living after all else in life is doom and groom but SKC has showed that he is a different breed. We must borrow a leaf off him that life is a risky business. It is a gamble and one has to do what he must do to soar high.

SKC is so courageous, he does not fear to explore the unknown, he swims in unknown waters and yet he gets across to the shores as Anais Nim once said; “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”

SKC is an inspiration. He is success personified. He is a lesson that in order for anybody to win, one must be prepared to lose. Most of us are where we are today because of not wanting to let go of the things we have no matter how detrimental they are to our lives.

Here is a man who in his early forties just when life begins, has become the country’s youngest vice president in Malawi’s history without previously being involved in politics – at least not actively. It is fair to say he is a political novice.

I, for one, know for sure I never would have played such a high stakes’ game if I was in his shoes (assuming that I somehow found myself as Airtel’s top boss). Why? There is no way I would have taken such a huge risk, but now I can!

I remember in one of his interviews the VP was asked if he thought he had made the right decision and he responded, albeit cockily, that he had never made a ‘wrong’ decision in his life and come 29th of May 2014 he was vindicated.

Chilima as the republican Vice President extraordinaire, he gives hope to the youth, the leaders of tomorrow as he brings with him a new dimension to politics.

“Saulos ndi makolo enieni!” and Saulos ndi deal, are but some of the new catchwords for many a youth in the urban circles.

With him, the long awaited tomorrow, for the youth, who for so long have been used by politicians for their own selfish good, has finally come. Tomorrow is here for the young generation. A generation of risk takers not the cowards.

So far, I am impressed with the way he is handling himself and issues of national importance. He is pure and simple. His punctuality is something we all have to emulate and his hardworking spirit is something we all need to adopt. Let’s roll up our sleeves with him and move Malawi forward.

If he changes for worse, I will be first one to come here and give him sticks. Trust me. I give credit where is due and constructive criticism when it is necessary. I am the ‘sojourner of truth.’

My wish, however, is that he doesn’t get side-tracked and eventually morph into a typical politician. Or am I just being just being naïve?

However this is all going to end up teaching us only one thing that anything is possible, not just in politics, but life in general. You can truly become anything you want to be as long as you are determined.

The moment you start to believe in yourself anything is possible, because someone that believes in himself (oneself maybe) will not be afraid to push himself (as above) to the next level and to risk the possibility of failure.

Push, push and push beyond the boundaries and achieve more. Be a daredevil. Let not the sky be the limit because it just a view, after all there are footsteps on the moon, way far beyond the sky.

To all of you who would want to be the next Saulos Chilima in life, take a risk. Do not fear to lose as Robert Kelly puts it:“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.”

So, how many of you would take such an enormous risk? Or are you satisfied with the status quo? Success won’t fall on your lap, you have to pursue it.

How many Saulos Chilima’s are out there? Are you willing to take a leap of faith and dare where others have failed and conquer?

Be a Saulos Chilima and make it big in life. Take a risk. Don’t fear to lose what you have, there is more you can achieve if you believe in yourself.

Of course, it is not easy. There are obstacles along the way but who said life is easy? If you want honey dare the bee sting and as Christopher Columbus once said: “By prevailing over all obstacles and distractions, one may unfailingly arrive at his or her chosen goal or destination…” The choice is yours.

If you’ve the desire to achieve greatness in life, Bring it on!

Are you Saulos Chilima?

  •  Mtumiki Woyamba is a Nyasa Times Columnist and a political and social Commentator based in the Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe.

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80 replies on “‘Are you Saulos Chilima?’”

  1. Yes, go aheard SKC. We need people with dynamic thinking like you. In most cases, risk takers usually succeed. Bravo VP!

  2. Malawians,lets not praise people blindly.Kafunseni anthu ogwira ntchito ku Airtel kuti pa nthawi imene a Chilima anali MD,anasintha bwanji moyo wa anthu ogwira ntchito ku AIrtel.You will be surprised kuti mwina bola azungu akunja omwewa.

    I am told kuti the contract for Airtel MDs run for 2 Years,mwina the time he was joining politics,amadziwa kale kuti ntchito yawo kulibe.

    Nanga izi timamva kuti he was forced to leave the office the same day without even the handovers,mwina there was misappropriation of funds,who knows

  3. I believe Saulos is the breath of fresh air the nation needed.

    I can tell you the “Reform” processes is taking great shape. Just the composition of the team is impressive.

    If the current government continues to place the right people in the right positions, Malawi shall be a different nation come 2019.

    Saulos, keep up the GREAT work. Make MALAWI a proud nation. Show that there is no room for idle hands and minds.

  4. It is clear the many so called commentators do not know the other dark side of the VP (before he became one) and other topics they tend to tackle. Please do some research and write balanced articles.

  6. A story is told that during one cabinet meeting one vocal woman minister said at the end of the cabinet meeting ‘DPP inner titsalire’. Saulos thought he was one of them and he remained. The lady minister then said Mr vice president please give us space. The vice president then looked at APM thinking that APM was going to support him. Then APM said yes, Mr VP you are excused.

    This story tells me that Saulos is yet to see things in DPP. The young man has been used and unless he plays his cards very very carefully he will no longer be a DPP member after 2019. So you can be a corporate giant but politics is something out of ordinary. The terminology was best translated by the late Msonti, formal interprator of Kamuzu (MTSRIP) that politics is ndale, literally meaning bringing each other down.

  7. Malawians your comments about saulos amuse me. As long as we practise regional politix, saulos will never advance. The Dpp inner circle is devlish and they mek sure it is for southerners. Tiyeni timuthandize kupemphera

  8. A “NDIKUTELO”……..The thing is not just about praising SKC…but, that’s the truth so far as it stands. What you are saying abt them “others” nzoona, but why are they not coming openly to assist the country at large just as SKC did? smh….

  9. Chilima is by far better than Bakili’s son, so we hope the DPP-UDF coalition should not be a stepping stone for Bakili’s son to take over from Chilima.

  10. Anthu mukungoti,Chilima,Chilima anayendetsa bwino airtel aaaaaa- rubish kugulitsa airtime komweko. Pali anthu achita zazikulu m’malawi muno koma chifukwa choti saimba chitolilo ndie nkumaona ngati Chilima wapambana zaziiiiiiii ,mxiiiiooo

  11. For some time now , I have been “studying” the public image – building exercise which one Saulosi Chilima (SKC) has mounted , and I have made the following observations :
    1 . His publicity team is doing a far better job than APM’S in terms of portraying their “star” in good light , and I’m convinced that the above article is part of that exercise;
    2 . This being politics, and not the corporate world, it’s only a matter of time before APM’s team takes real offence and decides that it’s time to trim someone down to size .
    My only hope is that SKC has prepared well for such a time . For now, allow me to imitate the antics of a football referee and wave SKC to “play on” .

  12. Bwinotu mumupwetekesa mwana wa eni ake! Mukuona ngati Mulhako Party ikusangalala naye Saulosi? DPP wants to keep the leadership of the party in Mulhako hands only. In my opinion Saulosi gambled and won round one but already I can see the DPP die-hards waiting to pounce on Saulosi once he makes any mistake! The Southern based parties will always want a Southerner to lead, watch this space if we reach 2024 and see if Saulosi will take over the leadership of DPhiPhi!! Or if( God forbid} the leadership succumbs to natural causes do you think Mulhako party will allow Saulosi to take over??????????

  13. Come 2019 Saulos will learn the real dark side of Malawian politics, becoz from what I have heard from the DPP politburo, he will be disposed off like a used condom and in comes Atupele to take his place. That’s Malawian politics.

    My advice to saulos is that when that time comes he should not try to fight with the powers that be but quit politics honourably and lots of Malawians will respect him. It will not be worthy it for him to fight for his political survival becoz obviously he can’t win against Mulahko henchmen.

  14. Atumbuka are always negative on good things. Holy Ghost fire their mouths. Chilima is doing good, kungoti atumbuka adanda ndi Bingu chifukwa anawawulula kuti amabela mayeso. Munya muwona, muyaluka apusi inu. Mungopita mukapange dziko lanu, mwatikwana

    1. You are very stupid. Atumbuka ukunenawo apongozi ake a Saulos, a Chibambo a ku Mzimba?. Ndiwe mbuzi imene Saulosi akufuna kuchosa mu public service

  15. Angoni Saulos is a great guy to many including myself. i do not subscribe to the views of the party that he is in but that does not make me fail to see what the man is made of. i have always been inspired by him at a personal level long before he even joined Airtel. the man is bold and fearless among other things. At the heart of it all i would rather be his fiercest critic if he starts to veer off the good path he has been on throughout life because of the same love I have for him.

  16. A very good article. The rise of Chilima to power is a clear manifestation that only those who dream about success and are willing to do what it takes to achieve that are likely to reap the rewards. Many of us would love to be successful but are so scared to take the initial leap. Nanji politics ndiye ehhhhhhh timangowoperatu.
    Let us hope that the younger generation will borrow a leaf and not end up like ife who only discuss office memos and relationships at Bwandilo and Ndirande Flats.

  17. An exaggerated praise. The truth is that while he has succeed as an individual for being vice president he is not making any impact in DPP. He has no influence in DPP. Even the public service reform commission he chaired failed to find that it is political interference that has dragged down the public service. So many senior civil servants have been warehoused in OPC for no good servants. Public Servants are performing Britain and Singapore-not Kenya because they are shielded from political meddling and interference. The judiciary is underperforming because the DPP Govt is underfunding it. It is rumoured that Mwapasa is to be appointed DIG of Police so that two DIG positions at Police will be Lomwes. MBC has terribly retrogressed since Peter Mutharika became President. It is not true that Chilima is making any positive impact. He has no real power but it is understandable because a vice president has no power.

  18. SKC gambled and the gamble paid off. He is a rare breed indeed but at the same time he belongs to endangered species in the Malawi political wilderness where the fittest survive. They survive using dirty tricks. I pray that he will not be a victim of some evil machinations as we approach 2019. I am not DPP but I wish him well!

  19. Masterpiece of an article. This guy is a prolific writer. By the way, which university did this writer attend? His choice of words is out of this world. Keep it up.

  20. If you want to gain something, prepare to lose something. Only pple of high integrity will acknowledge what others have done. Njala,matenda and nsanje are the great enemies of Malawi but iwonder why alot Malawians are also making friendship with these. God bless Malawi,God bless our leaders.

  21. Hon Chilima,you inspire a lot of young men.continue what you are doing.ifeyo we look up to you.we aspire to break the boundaries and we know we will get there.May God continue blessing you.

  24. Thanks for the good article. I am a Lomwe by tribe but am not happy the way 43 is responding to the issues of national interest. Here the story is talking of Saulos who has no connection with the Tumbukas. This is an idiot comment. You are foolish. Tumbukas are good people and my two bosses are Tumbukas and have enjoyed their company. Lets be mature Malawians, until when are we going to grow . Its unfortunate , we are all Malawians

  26. Great mind sees and appreciates great people indeed.The wise moralise the weak minded and rejuvenate that mind into fearless optimists and fearless optimists in the LIGHT creates a peaceful environment.

  28. Atumbuka akwiya ndi article iyi. Atumbuka kusapota MCP kuja sikuti ndi kumukonda Chakwera ayi asakunamizeni. Their eyes were fixed on Msowoya basi. Since when did mtumbuka and MCP become bedfellows? Munthu wa tsankho ngati mtumbuka sindinamuonepo ndipo alibe manyazi ndi tsankho lake. He believes he has a birth right to be above others.

    1. Fallacy of generalisation. You’re so ignorant of your own country. If you go to the northern region, tumbukas are the minority in the north, there’re many tribes in the north for your information. Can you be specific when you categorise pple as tumbuka. If you’re honest with self, be reflexive and analyse why you like your political party, you’ll realise that you’re just a hypocrit and you don’t practice what you preach.

  32. Hhhhhmmm anthu awa ngati anaba mavoti, as per Kabwira’s claim, chingawalepheretse ndi chyan kuba ndalama zonse za boma kaaayaaaa!!!

  33. I used to hate Chilima but now I have revolved to change. He inspires me. He knows how to handle his Boss and his juniors. Keep up.

  37. Angoni. Saulos is the best thing to ever happen to malawi politics as of late. Apa zalembedwa zoona zokha zokha osapanga nsanje.

  38. Guys, listen to me. Joseph in the bible was thrown in the pit fo death by his brothers because he bragged about his dream. If he had kept quiet his path to honour and prosperity couldv been different. Stop praising saulos like that mumuphetsa mwana. Remember the ploy chap he was eliminated befo he could be wat he was destined to be. Bwanji tizanene 2019 when he becomes president. Tonse tizamuvotere…

  39. Thumbs up Mtumiko. Give credit where its due. Saulos Chilima amagwira ntchito and hes what Malawi needed. Its a good team ndi APM they are complementing each other. Wayitha Mtumiki whoever you are

  42. Marko and masoambeta ngati mulibe chokamba muzikachedzera amisala ku box 38. Ngakhale skc atayambitsa chake chipani sazakutenga as running mate. Tisiye a lomwefe ndinthawi yathu. Umawaopa alomwe. Kumbukira kuti alomwe alipo until 2024 then angoni 2024 to2034 under skc. Saulos fatsa udzadya boo. Usakhale ngati ena oyambitsa chawo kamba ka dyera lero anagwa chagada kkkk

  44. I am a strong believer in destiny. There are many young men better qualified and more hard working than Saulos Chilima but God did not destiny them for vice presidency. Whatever one does or achieves in life smartly or though crooked way, was destined by God. We should learn to put God ahead of everything we do or achieve. Chilima is aware of this and probably that is why he is not pompous at all.

  45. Saulos is doing great and he has defied the odds. A true inspiration. However, this artilce should have been preserved for the author’s FB wall. The article should have ended at ‘But Saulos is more than just that.’ The rest of the article gives little substance other than displaying the author’s candy crush on the VP. Please give us more substance into the workings of the great mind that is Chilima. Tatopa ndi gaga mumatidyetsayu inu a Nyasatimes. Do more homework, please.

  47. Surely, he is realy a daring young man. And your article is very clear and straight forward. I also admire his successes.

    However, government is different from profit oriented firms where you easily follow set targets. And sometimes people are paid handsomely and incentives/bonuses are given to good performers.For example some departments have grossly overspent by now while he is in government, but if it were airtel that could not have happened.

    Just to remind you, he is now in politics. Where even your seniors don’t trust you.
    Back biting is normal, people get promotions not based on performance but other factors.

    Please, serving Malawians does not hold because he was also serving Malawians while at Airtel.He switched because he was given/ promised something which, honestly speaking he cannot disclose in public.

    Find out, how the most humble and poorest president in the world lives,you will agree with me that ours are WOLVES IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING and hypocrites.

  48. New people will mean new way of doing things as is demonstrated by skc. Recycling politicians is madness. We will end up failing as has been the case in the past. Check in parliament. There is atleast sober debate, why , a lot of new faces and of course fresh way of doing things

  50. SKC is handsome and intelligent. He is a technocrat and not a politician. He has great potential to succeed koma asiye kukhomerera achinyamata anzake. This will make hime lose focus. But I agree that he is a rare breed.

  54. Ife we already knew the potential in some of the young men like the VP. Sawulosi ndi deal. Muyamika simulation
    Confi yokhayo, palibe. APM and the general public however need to support and protect him. Let’s leave petty politics aside.

  55. Mumupwetekesa. The DPP inner circle(mlakho clique) placed Saulos on runningmate ticket not necessarily to deputize and therefore become ‘crown prince’, no. They only wanted him for hitech vote ‘processin’ and for magnetting the youth. I bet the inner circle is now very dislusioned with the young fellow’s above expectation performance. The mulakho voltures are partcularly shocked with Muthalika’s display of trust in Saulos.

    I therefore plead with Nyasatimes NOT to publish any more such articles on Saulos. Let us spare him for the future. Please.

  56. I for one do not like praising others but just encourage them for the job that they are doing, pinpont the weaknesses for achieving the greater points. Malawi needs to shift far much further from where we are. I rilly SKC the way he has started, the working style. My wish is he should continue leading as an example. He has alot to do for malawi to climb up… we can play a part as malawians, but our experience has shown that the leadership actions leads to postive change and also negative change. Now what we need to advocate is… malawians should work harder always, malawians should not have a syndrome of earning easy money as we have seen in recent cashgate saga.

    1. Mhesha,

      Shame on you. You are exactly the rot that Chilima wants to clean out of the public service. You are a quota product who only imagine ‘tumbuka’ in front of you, nothing else. You are the misfit who the poet described at BICC today – using govt computer just to hunt for anything Tumbuka to bash, and then you shamelessly wait for a salary at the end of the month. Chindele

  61. Is Chilima vying for VP post now? why bring such an eulogy now. This is time to work, do that in 2019, Praise and hero worshipping is a Malawi disease, when are people going to get cured?

  62. He is okay but he must learn to be merciful.The bible in mathews 5:7 says blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. Its not good to be getting rid of those you fear or are better than you. I thank APM for resisting Chilima’s calls to have innocent civil servants dismissed simply because they dont agree with him. As you know OPAs are a creation of OPC by Msaka there is nothing new. These civil servants are very good they just need political leadership which i believe APM will provide. Goodluck as you reform the public service.

  63. ATUMIKI KAYA UMADZITCHA NDANI I THINK YOU ARE LOST ON POURING PRAISES ON THIS CHILIMA GUY.HAVE ALREADY FORGOTTEN THAT THIS DPP OPPORTUNIST WHO MADE DPP TO RIG VOTES IN 2014.UR BUSY WRITTING THIS ARTICLE WHILE SITTING ON YOUR MOTHERS COUCH SCRATCHING YOUR DIRTY BALLS.I THINK YOU NEED PHYCHATRIST YOU ARE MENTALLY DISTURBED LIKE YOUR FRIEND CHILIMA.THESE GUYS ARE BOOKWORMS THAT ACTORS.STRATEGY FORMULATION IS TASK EVEN YOU ATUMIKI YOU CAN FORMULATE A STRATEGY BUT WHAT MATTERS IS IMPLEMENTATION.DO NOT LET YOUR SISTER MARRY A SCUMBUG BCOZ HE IS A UNIMA GRADUATE WORK THE GIFT OF LIFE IS GIVEN TO EVERY HUMAN.DO NOT CRAP HANDS FOR STUPID PEOPLE.

  64. I Chindazi was one of them who said…. SKC has goofed to be APM running mate…. leaving the CEO of Airtel with big monies…. S****t man….

    But now I believe … he never goofed….. He saw the future that was there…..

  65. For the first time in my life, this is the first time I have had a well documentated piece from Nyasatimes, Mtumiki woyamba I salute you , you are the best keep it up, This SKC is another breed, even if DPP lose in 2019, this guy will never lose ,he is creating his own stairway up, he is slowly taking the path of the great men like Kofi Anan, before we know it , he will head big organizations like World Bank, IMF and United Nations this SKC guy belongs to the elite, we need to borrow a leaf from his thinking, what a genius risk taker, You are my idol SKC , Thumb up Mtumiki woyamba for the well written article, Thumb up SKC

  70. Mulakho tribalism is the disease we are suffering from. Soon Chilima will leave DPP and start his own bandwagon.

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