Chilima dares DPP to strip off presidential immunity: ‘They are copying UTM manifesto’
Malawi’s Vice-President Saulos Chilima has challenged the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) led government to repeal Section 91 (2) of the Constitution, to strip off immunity for a sitting President from criminal prosecution, saying it gives the presidency licence to commit corrupt crimes.
Chilima, who is UTM Party leader, was speaking at political rally in Mzuzu on Sunday which was televised nationwide on private stations; Times and ZBS.
He said the DPP are copying the UTM manifesto ahead of the fresh elections slated for May 19, citing the government decision to abolish the quota system if selecting students to public university as an example.
“They are copying our manifesto to abolish the quota system,” said Chilima, who started his speech in local lingua franca Tumbuka fluently.
But he challenged the government, saying that if they want to deal with the UTM manifesto, they should remove the presidential immunity, saying the country’s should not be immune from prosecution during their term of office.
“Removing the quota system is not enough as the biggest problem is presidential immunity,” Chilima said.
Chilima reiterated that a sitting President is not supposed to have immunity so that he or she, like any other person, should be tried in court if found on the wrong side of the law while in office.
Section 91 of the Republican Constitution gives immunity from civil lawsuits and criminal charges to a person holding the office of President or performing the functions of President.
Section 91 (2) reads: “No person holding the office of President shall be charged with any criminal offence in any court during his term of office.”
However, a former president loses immunity and is liable to prosecution for any acts done in his official capacity.
Chilima has been accusing the DPP administration of being riddled with corruption, nepotism and cronyism.
The UTM leader said his party will not compromise on its electoral manifesto.
“We want a nation in which everyone should be happy,” said Chilima.
The manifesto, which talks about alleviating poverty among Malawians, also promises voters a good governance system through making key accountability institutions independent of political interference.
UTM secretary general Patricia Kaliati speaking earlier also trashed gvernment’s decision to abolish the quota system, saying is is copying from the UTM president who has been condemning the system.
The party directors of strategic planninh Norman Nyirenda also echoed the same, saying it is Chilima who condemned quota system as “satanic and evil.”
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Mukuti kukopela ndi kwabwino?I thought you were the ones who +removed JCE & you also introduced quota system.it seems you were not in your senses doing this…….sukulu sinakupindulileni myopic people.
Chilima will never cease to amaze and entertain the public on no cost. He usually talks like he has no head, like he has not read widely. Is he not aware that the Malawi constitution is more or less tailored along the American/British constitution? In civilised countries a president is not sued on frivolous made-up/tramped accusations. If that was the case Trump or Netanyahu would have been in prison by now, but they are not because of the same immunity Chilima is deliberately twisting. Give the northerners a break and at least preach to them mature politics other than accusing… Read more »
Yes agree they like keeping bundles and boxes of foreign 💰 money’s under beds at this old age while the country is suffering release the cash please to circulate instead of keeping them for yourself
So you have problems with copying your socalled manfestos, I thought you said it is good for Malawians, so what is wrong with that?
Timayenela tizikopela kumene zabwinozo kuti tonse tiyende pamodzi ndi mtima umodzi.
I agree, there must be a period in between, when the immunity of the president is not valid! Let’s say for a two week window, a few month before the financial year of government ends! To get the righ guy responsible for it, when he covers up a minister! This would hopefully create financial sanity! On top we need a proper law concerning the financing and transparency of political parties!
How can anyone in their right mind vote for an old senile corrupt APM when Chilima and Chakwera are there as alternatives?
I mean even as we speak, APM is busy going at snails pace to get rid of the commissioners who messed up the election. Is this a serious fellow? Does he want the streets to flow with rivers of blood before he understands that time is up?
Ku UK, USA, Israel, Pa South Africa pompa, kuti kuti kuti, ma president amasumidwa ndikumayankha milandu ali m’boma. Izi zimapangitsa kuti ndalama za boma zidzifika pa ground penipeni kukathandiza anthu. President naye amaopa. Osati zoti president adziba mmene akufunira and ife ndikumangoona ngati zabwinobwino, eish, koma dziko ili?
Try that and the President will spend more days in court than in the office. Aliyense azingothamangila mu court to sue the President over frivolous issues. Chilima amakonda ma court too much. Malawians have better issues to focus on the politicking. Imagine a 1000 people suing a sitting President and then tax money is being used on such litigations, that means the whole MLS (Malawi Law Society) will be on government payroll. Zinthu zina anthu aziyangana mbali zonse. Tomorrow tge same laws they are trying to bring will bite them on the buttocks.
Iwe ndiye Mbuli yamunthu. Why would people be suing the president for no wrong doing??
President naye ndi munthu, ayimbidwe mlandu ngati walakwa, DPP kuba too much
Mr Nangwale according to the Malawi Constitution Boma ndi President osati Vice or ma MP ayi cos only the President holds the Executive Powers. Thats why in elections it is allowed for an independent presidential aspirant to stand & if she/he wins then that particular person can form government. Another example is that Malawi is going into elections in May & if Chilima wins regardless of his party having 4 MPs then he will form government so as it stands Mutharika is government cos he has the Sword of Power.
Chida cha kampeni chachotsedwa akusowa zouza anthu tsopano
Idiot. Look at the WALL