Chilima articulates clear vision for Malawi

Since Saulos Chilima launched his United Transformation Movement (UTM) he has been consistent in articulating his movement’s vision for Malawi.  He has been clear on what UTM wants to achieve and the steps to take how to achieve the goals unlike his rivals President Peter Mutharika and Lazarus Chakwera, This has put him ahead of his competitors whose statements on employment creation, resuscitating the economy and improving the welfare of Malawians is rather vague.

Chilima: Inspiring a lot of people

Critics have dismissed his assertion that he will create one million jobs in one year.  Rather than just dismiss his statement as mere political, one has to analyse critically whether this is achievable. Partly he has explained the proposed measures to achieve that goal. Whether he will live up to his promises or not can only be judged when he is in office.

In the run up to 2014 tripartite elections, President Peter Mutharika, among other issues, promised to construct five universities and trim presidential powers.As it has turned out, he has failed to construct a single university and he has refused to reduce his powers. He has even misused his powers by appointing people to positions which other bodies are mandated to do. Yet President Mutharika is a professor of law and has taught in American universities!

For now, UTM has a better manifesto [than MCP and DPP] which is inspiring a lot of people. A number of aspirants who wanted to stand on MCP or DPP ticket have moved to UTM. Chilima’s campaign trail is inspiring and opening the eyes of many people about the endless opportunities to create jobs and to turn around the economy. He is reinforcing the fact that Malawi is where it is today mainly because of poor leadership, corruption and mismanagement.

It is clear from the measures he is espousing to arrest unemployment and to revive the economy that state-owned enterprises will be at the centre of economic activity which the DPP has misused in their economic agenda. DPP is so obsessed with foreign investment to create job and improve the economy that it is doing little to mobilise local resources to create jobs or make SOEs perform to the expectations of Malawians and drive the economic agenda.

Chilima’s call to revive the closed down industries, his focus for value addition, the use of co-operatives to drive development is certain sectors and promotion of small scale businesses makes sense in creating jobs. Malawi is an agro-based economy and a lot of industries can be created to make use of local raw materials to manufacture products.  It is ironic that Malawi has abundant fruits [some of which just rot], cotton, minerals [such as coal], but does not have industries to manufacture juices, clothes, fertiliser, vehicles or generate electricity from coal.

Malawi has a beautiful lake that span over 500km, but does not have a single three or five star hotel along the lakeshore, let alone cruise boats [save for two passengers ships MV Chilembwe and the dilapidated Ilala]. When you hear Chilima talk about constructing hotels, setting up some industries such as boating making and fish processing plant in Mangochi, one gets inspired that this will boost tourism and create employment.

I have maintained that UDF and DPP made a huge mistake and did a huge disservice to Malawians to accept IMF/ World Bank sponsored privatisation programme in which so many SOEs were closed down. Chilima, rightly so, has promised to bring back some of the companies. When a government closes down manufacturing industries or privatises strategic institutions you know you are being led by visionless leaders.

Again, his call to change the way we do things is a move in the right direction. The president should not have a huge entourage or large convoy. It is costly. The police or soldiers should not be made to stand along the presidential route for 5 hours just to wait for the president to pass in the name of security. They are human beings, they get tired. Selection to university should be based on merit and not quota system. Some brilliant students have been made to suffer because of this system.

The pass rate [cut-off pass /fail mark] to select learners from primary to secondary school should also be standardized for all the regions, and not different pass rate for different regions. Currently, the pass rate for the South is 28%, Centre is 40% and North is 50%. This implies that many pupils from the South are selected to secondary school with very low marks.

The DPP government has been promoting regionalism, nepotism and tribalism at all levels of society in a variety of ways which Chilima’s UTM has promised to eradicate. Chilima’s resolve to provide solutions to problems, professionalise the civil service and lock up corrupt politicians and officials when ushered into office has also impressed many Malawians who ‘smell’ a better future.

Indeed Malawi needs to do away with regionalism, nepotism and tribalism that has been characteristic of the DPP government.  We need a government that can build a society that will offer equal opportunities to all and treat its citizens equally. Any political party that practices discriminatory policies will find it very difficult to win votes.

 

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#DzukaniAmalawi
#DzukaniAmalawi
5 years ago

Don’t ask for answers from UTM, Malo a Maloto, but rather join the movement and be part of (Malawi) solutions, for Malawi belongs to you and it invested many dollars to educate you and others to make a difference to those less fortunate.

Ziiiii . . . Giiiii . . . Diiiii . . . .
Ziiiii . . . Giiiii . . . Diiiii . . . .
5 years ago

A lot of Chilima’s critics do not seem to understand the nature of a movement, and how it differs from a political party as we know it in Malawi. Based on the experience of the last fifty years, it is fair to equate a party with an organized crime syndicate, formed for the benefit of party members. A movement is what arises when the majority of people see that they are receiving no benefit from such a political dispensation. It arises when people decide: ‘Enough!’ And realize that they must ALL do something. Right now, most of us are sitting… Read more »

Malo A Maloto
Malo A Maloto
5 years ago

Your comment, Mr/s Zigidi, reminds me of a slogan that was popular in America in the 60’s: “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.” This is as true today as it was then. The UTM claims to be a movement, not merely a party. It has stated that its aim is to mobilize the nation as a whole so that, together, we create a Malawi in which we can all develop and prosper. It might be helpful to list some of the characteristics that are associated with movements. We could then judge the extent to… Read more »

Vision
Vision
5 years ago

Kodi mtola nkhani uyunso ndiye uti. Pali za clear vision apa. Which clear vision? Eeee ndimafuna nditamagona ku Mtunthama. Ndimafuna ndizipatsidwa ulemu ngati wa president. Is that what you call clear vision. Fotseki!!

Mangochi Kabwafu
Mangochi Kabwafu
5 years ago

Kodi mwati 28%?, I can see quite a few of them on this forum, Kikikikikikiii.

mediaz
mediaz
5 years ago

Making a lot of noise on promises,how sure are you to fulfill all of things you’re talking?

mediaz
mediaz
5 years ago

In his campaign in 1994 bakili promised free shoes to Malawians but letter he changed.Chilima you’re making a lot of notice with your promises,where were you the past four years?Utm is dpp b,,,,,,

mbuje
mbuje
5 years ago

Which clear vision? The so called million jobs? Atumbuka tangonenani kuti you are happy kuti this power hungry bebe is promising to remove quota system so that you again monopolize university system. Sizitheka. Sawina bebe wanuyo.

Mangochi Kabwafu
Mangochi Kabwafu
5 years ago
Reply to  mbuje

Why and how do these tumbukas monopolize? By hard working? So this quota was to curb them? In the end who really suffers? The economy and country as is headed by DUNDERHEADS.

MA D7 MA D6
MA D7 MA D6
5 years ago

GERTRUDE HAS OFFICIALLY DUMPED THE EMBATTLED DPP
AND HAS SINCE JOINED UTM !!

SKC +BUSHIRI WILL MAKE
MALAWI A PROSPEROUS COUNTRY AS THE HAY DAYS OF KAMUZU

Napoleon muza
5 years ago
Reply to  MA D7 MA D6

Stop putting your nose where it is not supposed to be. Just listen to the lies of your bus driver, who thinks business will boom with mk120,000. Have you imagined what type of business are you going to do. Build sharks mwa Ngona, Msiriza or Ngwenya. That is only transport fee to ferry cargo from Blantyre to Lidzulu. Are you will be abichi and tomato sellers. Kikikiki. Let your sleeping giant awake.

#DzukaniAmalawi
#DzukaniAmalawi
5 years ago

True inspirational leaders are those that dream beyond anyones imaginations…..they’re great at executing and able to mobilize the masses to create even a bigger wave. The current crop of political leaders have so far failed in all the above areas. Maybe and only maybe Chilima is different. Let’s give him a chance if he can deliver and if not let’s impeach him. In fact he has set a target of creating 1 million jobs so in 2020 we will check the employment stats. If numbers don’t add up then he will have to resign otherwise he will face a revolt.

Tiyeseni Phiri
Tiyeseni Phiri
5 years ago

I watched his meeting in his home district, Ntcheu. I was utterly disappointed when he failed to excite the crowd. It was so dull and uninspiring. I wondered how he hopes to garner majority votes in the manner and style of his approach. He may have bright ideas for the country, like many other people that are not in politics. But he may never have a chance to implement them because he has to dislodge the DPP first. Dislodging the DPP requires an earthquake-like rebellion that measures upward of 7.5 on the Richter scale. From the look of things, Chilima… Read more »

Brown
Brown
5 years ago

I support your point . lets vote for him and see what will happen.

UTM
UTM
5 years ago

std pass rate Southern 28% Central 40% and the almighty Northern Region 50% aaaaaa u guys from the south what are you doing especially teachers ….most of the projects are being initiated in the southern and central regions but ana sakumakhoza y …. mangodya ma salary bs…… come on

Napoleon muza
5 years ago
Reply to  UTM

It is good for north. Do better., build nice houses and drive posh cars in the South and Central but fail to go to your villages because there is no road. Kikikikiki.

Hlabezulu Ngonoonda
Hlabezulu Ngonoonda
5 years ago
Reply to  Napoleon muza

That is what happens when there is selective developments in the country backed by insidious policies. If that are a is given autonomous status its citizens will embark on projects similar to those in the other two regions. But this is Malawi.

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