Chilima defends association with Catholic Church, says he is not corrupt: Malawi VP dominates headlines
Vice-President Saulos Chilima on Wednesdsy evening broke his silence by announcing that he will challenge President Peter Mutharika in presidential race in the 2019 Tripartite Elections and his exclusive interview with privately -owned Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) has dominated headlines in Malawi’s media.
In the 45-minute interview anchored by Zodiak managing director Gospel Kazako, Chilima addressed wide-ranging issues including what critics have been saying that he is using the influential Catholic Church as a platform for advancing his political agenda.
Chilima, 45, a devout Catholic, defended his association with the Church , saying the Catholic Church encourages its faithfuls to participate in politics but it cannot take a partisan stand to support a particular candidate.
During the interview, Kazako asked Chilima —who remains Vice-President until the end of his term next May— if he was clean from corruption as ‘those who seek equity must come with clean hands’ considering he has described the country as riddled with corruption, nepotism and cronyism.
In his response, Chilima said he has not been involved in corruption but said there have been attempts to smear his name.
“I am very sure. There are two things; one is truth and one is evidence. I am very sure that I have not been involved in corruption,” he said.
He continued: “I know there have been references to an issue. May be this I should not be divulging here. I sold a house to somebody [Maxwell Namata] through an estate agency, but eventually turned out the buyer was a suspect of Cashgate. But I have never been engaged in corruption [without any fear of contradiction].”
Despite echoing his concerns about rampant corruption, Chilima took some time to recognise the positive side of Peter Mutharika’s government on several development initiatives such as malata and cement subsidy, community technical colleges as well as the reforms.
Chilima said there was need for Malawians to acknowledge government’s success in initiating the malata and cement subsidy which has brought decent housing for poor Malawians, adding the coming in of community colleges offers skills to young people.
“On reforms I would say we have not moved with pace. We have not performed as expected,” said Chilima.
Meanwhile, he has given Malawians 10 days when he will announce his political move while hinting on forming a coalition with some of the country’s opposition political parties through what he christened Transformation Movement.
Livingstonia Synod-based political scientist George Phiri said Chilima had exercised his right to make a decision.
On whether time was on Chilima’s side, Phiri said the Vice-President might be a person who makes his decisions strategically.
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The argument that CHILIMA participated in cashgate by selling his house to a cashgater is quite interesting. TELL, when people walk into SHOPRITE OR CHIPIKU OR METRO DISCLOSE THEIR SOURCES OF FUNDS BEFORE THEY PURCHASE THEIR GOODS.? How could Chilima have known that the purchaser of his house through an estate agency was a cashgater? Guys let us start talking sense in much as there is much merit in demonizing cashgaters.
Chilima commending president Mutharika, then talking about how he benefited from cashgate money by selling his house to a cashgater. In other words, Chilima has cashgate money in his account. No way a sane person can believe his loud-mouthed rants about corruption.
Wina akuti Chakwera wazunguliridwa ndi anthu a dyera like Mia, koma Chilima ali clean, how clean is Chilima, munthu anaba mavoti kuti agogo aja awine chifukwa chofuna udindo komanso wazunguliridwa nayenso ndi anthu osalongosoka, akuba more than Mia I know who use his own sweat to help the poor. Tandiwuze how clean is Kaliati, Kalindo, Masangwi, Callista Muthalika? Ife anthu aku mudzi simungatipake phula mmaso tazindikila chifukwa cha mchitidwe wanu wakuba. Chilima may have few votes in town but he can’t beat Chakwera who is everywhere and you must know he will be our next President. Do your research properly.
The young man is very intelligent but not wise do you this Atupele can go for vice and you be head of state kodi athu wopenga mwapanga chani
But the man has much more ground outside the church for his political speeches than during MISSA. Why did the Dedza priest use the church to campaign for him? Such priests will soon make the very catholic faithfuls to insult their own church especially those who differ with Chilima politically. Remember that in 1994 those who voted for MCP included catholics despite the sour relationship which was there.
Really? Catholic Bishops released the pastoral letter entitled “Living Our Faith” in March 1993 that, among other issues, chronicled human rights abuses during the one party state. Then the same catholic faithfuls voted for MCP? No, Mr. Santana. The true is that people were encouraged to vote for Muluzi despite knowing that the administration under him would plunder the country’s economy. Here now is the country seething with all sorts of problems with corruption topping the list.
This time only Santana has made a point! I know zinazija umapangira dala because yu love DPP too much.
Santana, welcome back after a long break
Chilima is very smart and must have been a great chase player. He must have recognised that his time is up in DPP hence his move to resign from the party from May 2019. If indeed he was concerned about rampant corruption and lack of transformative leadership within the part then he should have been in forefront to change things inside. For heavens sake, he was the VP. The fact that he failed firstly to deal with and to report crime to law enforcement agencies in the 4 years he was VP coupled with the fact he was unable to… Read more »
Three issues you have missed. First, It is difficult to say against your leaders or party from within. It only happens in the ANC in South Africa. Chilima was mentioning indirectly against the rot in DPP though indirectly. The fact that he resigned from the DPP is sign enough that he does not want to be part of the rot. Secondly, he is the right person for the job. He has shown that he can move things. You remember how he has criticised assemblies and contractors for the shoddy work and lack of seriousness. A leader has to be a… Read more »
I agree with you chilonga but if he has to be taken seriously he must be a bot more vocal and precise in his messaging. Ordinary people and those in the rural villages should understand his plans (talk their language) and how the plans will benefit them at their level. Again, if a leader is unable to fight for what they believe in even within their own party, then you can’t be a true leader. A leader is never afraid to be fired for speaking out……if you are then you don’t qualify to run a country.; full stop! Of course… Read more »
but too late..
Dominating by wishful thinking!
I have lost interest in you ,I now believe that you are a coward ,you just want to use others to fight for your glory when you have hibernated ..You have over priced yourself when you are not worth your price in weight.You have ganged up with thiefs ,”birds of the same feathers flock together”..Anyway all the best my homeboy and welcome to the dragons den
Chilima should not belittle his involvement cahsgate – he knowingly sold his house to a cashgater and so he is corrupt.
Chilima connived with cashgater to sale his house. Zimvere mu mtolo Transformational Movement supporters.