Chakwera to be one-term Malawi president: Tonse pact raises more questions

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera would only be in power for five years of his first term and leave his running mate Saulos Chilima to be the alliance’s next presidential candidate in line with their rotational leadership arrangement of their partnership.

Tonse Alliance President Lazarous Chakwera addresses the gathering at Njamba Freedom Park in Blantyre-(c) Abel Ikiloni, Mana
UTM President being welcomed by Catherine Gotani Hara, Mtambo and Lowe respectively at Njamba Freedom Park in Blantyre-(c) Abel Ikiloni, Mana
CFT security arrives at Njamba Freedom Park in Blantyre-(c) Abel Ikiloni, Mana
MCP youths in decent attire at Njamba park in Blantyre-(c) Abel Ikiloni, Mana
Tonse Alliance President, Chakwera and his Running mate, Chilima on artistical work on the banner-(c) Abel Ikiloni, mana

Chilima, the country’s estranged Vice-President—who is also UTM Party president— at a Tonse Alliance campaign rally at Njamba Freedom Park in Blantyre on Monday said the leadership of the alliance will be rotational.

“I will be the next presidential candidate after Dr. Lazarus Chakwera. After me, the others [pointing to the podium] will follow. Besides being Vice-President, I will also serve as minister of Finance,” he said.

In his speech, Chakwera only corroborated about Chilima being Finance Minister but was mum on the rotational presidency arrangement.

Chakwera said Chilima has an impeccable track record in the corporate world and has a good understanding of the economy.

“He [Chilima] is someone this country needs to improve public service delivery. He is someone we need to head the public sector reforms to develop Malawi,” said Chakwera.

Meanwhile, a top MCP executive member told Nyasa Times that they will not allow Chakwera to run for one term.

“When we ascend to power, the MCP will ensure will hold our grip to power and will strengthen the party to make sure Chakwera run again.

“This rotational presidency is a fallacy,” said the official who asked not to be named.

Another MCP legislator said “it is a fantasy to think Chilima will have more powers. The Constitution will guide us and Chakwera has the majority  MPs and MCP will not willy nilly change the Constitution.”

And UTM upfront talking member Joshua Chisa Mbele also raised doubt on the one-term presidency pact.

He said if that is the Chakwera-Chilima agreement, he believes “it will not be honoured.”

Mbele wrote on Facebook: “It will be the very reason UTM-MCP will part ways.

“I seriously doubt the sincerity of this particular clause which can’t be backed, guarded and guaranteed by the Constitution. Malawians rarely operate un good faith.”

The United Democratic Front (UDF) spokesman Ken Ndanga is also sceptical of the agreement.

“One can easily see that the so called Tonse alliance evolves around the interests of two people and the other 7 leaders and their supporters are of no value.

“It is clear that the  whole Tonse alliance is about power and not development.

“How can a runninmate dictate the term limit of a president when such issues are dealt clearly in the constitution? Malawians need to open their eyes that this is not their alliance,”  Ndanga told Nyasa Times.

Chakwera and Chilima  have pledged to  work together in the best interest for Malawians.

Some leaders and citizens praised them and described them as statesmen for putting aside their differences and putting Malawians ’ interests before their own.

Tonse Alliance comprises nine parties including support from human rights activist-turned-politician Timothy Mtambo who is leading Citizens for Transformation Movement.

Malawi is set to hold a fresh presidential election following the February 3 judgement of a five-judge panel of the High Court of Malawi sitting as the Constitutional Court that nullified the May 21 2019 presidential election over alleged irregularities. A seven-judge panel of the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal upheld the lower court’s ruling.

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Bruce
Bruce
4 years ago

Dzinazo tidzaziwona kutsogolo
Pano tingofuna kuchosa dpp m’boma

DPP Handed Back To UDF

Nothing wrong as long as we are not in the hands of udf again. Those of you with negative views are udf supporters and you are happy that APM is a dying man.

Wahisoni
Wahisoni
4 years ago

its all about power with the Aliiance! no mention of what they intend to do for Malawi! can you see what you would vote for if you voted for this Aliance? Chakwera wants to quench his thirst for becoming president and Saulos cannot wait to get to state house and use it for whatever plans he has got in his life. Selfish, selfish, short sighted people who do not understand the concept of ” good for all including me”1111 its all ME ME ME !!

Ajijo
Ajijo
4 years ago

UTM yabetsa chipani basi. This is MCP’ s show. UTM athandizeni ndipo, muzaidzia kuti Congress ndi chani

che Vikitala
4 years ago

kkkkkkk abusa apa ndiye mukunama as far as I know the malawi Crocodile Party (MCP). izi za 5 years anaziyamba ndi ambwiye che Muluzi kuuza che mpinganjira. koma kwaniko? zinatheka kapena ayi? kodi che chilima anachokeranji ku DPP? nkhani yake ndi yomweyo ndi lero maso mwamba kumanamiza anthu ngati ndinu owona mtima. as if democracy is from your family. Akukunamizani anthu a UTM kuti mutengeke koma izo ndi iwalani ndithu. ndipo muzalira chakhwanu koma paja ati angoni salira amangobuula ndiye inu muzabuula chokweza ndithu.

haste
haste
4 years ago

Apart from Mtambo and Kachale, Chakwera will not have Atumbuka in his government. This alliance will first have to please all those who fought for it and unfortunately mulubemo atumbuka. You can swear at me all you wan but firstly analyse the line up

Vyose
Vyose
4 years ago
Reply to  haste

Y r u contradicting urself

Thuko
4 years ago

Maloto a Chumba, Chakwera won’t be president at all. You really think Dpp and Malawians are fools eti. Muzililabe. Dpp won 2019 elections and there is no going back, this what’s left is to win convincingly and cement that rule. Muwona nyekhwe

che Vikitala
4 years ago
Reply to  Thuko

ndipo ambwiye che chakwera apa mukuzinyenga ndi chala. mukukopeka ndi anthu pa msonkhano mkumati mavoti anu amenewo. hehehehehedeeeeeee mwalemba madzi ndithu.

Basi nkumanamiza anthu ndi kachizungu kanuko mwati basi kameneka ndilowa nako u president .

Kafwafwa
Kafwafwa
4 years ago

Amalawi dekhani

Kafwafwa
Kafwafwa
4 years ago

Kafwafwa

Jose
Jose
4 years ago

Tikuphunzitseni supreme court yanena kuti this is non term it will still end in 2024 The 2024 to 2029 will be the first term of chakwera.This means its Gods making Chakwera Chilima team will run both as president and running mate.Chilima will be vice three times then in 2029 chilima will be torch bearer of MCP UTM Alliance.This is Gods making to make malawi prosper if chakwera wants may rule three terms this nonterm plus the two terms.Whether DPP is delaying what they must know is that this is not a term chakweras constitutional two terms starts from 2024 to… Read more »

political commentator
4 years ago
Reply to  Jose

tell them….ana anjoka akufuna kupasula ubale wathu

weo
weo
4 years ago
Reply to  Jose

patalitu apo

che Vikitala
4 years ago
Reply to  Jose

a JOse mwayambapo kusuntha kkkkkkkkkk. term ikutha 2024 and NOT 2029 as you say. ndanena komatu kuti MCP will never rule Malawi again. MCP ndi chitsime chomwe munafera galu ndipo chikununkha mpaka lero.

I was in standard 7 pamene anthu oipa inu mumathamangitsa atumbuka omwe lero mukuti ndi abale anuwo.
ndipo atumbuka simuchedwa kuiwala ndithu kkkkkkkkkk. akupherani anthu anu. try to read Gwanda Chakuamba’s book you will hear more about the Malawi Crocodile party.

Chaura
Chaura
4 years ago
Reply to  Jose

which supreme court said that, Zimbabwe? As long as people take their time to go vote and elect a leader, which includes a president, they give them a full term.

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