Chilima refuses to be stampeded by DPP: ‘I will not abdicate office of Malawi VP’
Malawian Vice-President Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima (SKC) has rebuffed Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government call for his resignation over strong criticism of government on corruption and nepotism and his subsequent resignation from the ruling party.
The DPP through five senior ministers; Goodall Gondwe, Nichalous Dausi, Bright Msaka, Samuel Tembenu and Henry Mussa held a news conference where they accused Chilima of practicing opposition politics while serving in a government position; hence, called for his immediate resignation.
While stating that he is not in the habit of reacting to what others say, Chilima said at a rally of his United Transformation Movement (UTM) in Blantyre on Sunday that Cabinet ministers calling for his resignation should understand that he was not appointed, but appeared on the presidential ballot alongside Mutharika in the May 20 2014 Tripartite elections.
“In 2014, the President [Mutharika] and myself contested in the presidential race. There were some who contested as members of parliament [MPs] and some as ward councillors. No one contested to be a minister.
“The qualification to be a minister is based on ‘pleasing’ the appointing authority to do so. It is a pleasure. I was mot appointed .”
And in an exclusive interview on Times Television , Chilima said while the people who asked him to resign are entitled to their opinion, his thinking was that it is not right.
According to Chilima, he has a contract with Malawians.
Said Chilima: “I signed a contract with Malawians in 2014 and from my knowledge this contract ends in 2019.
“It’s up to me decide whether I want to resign or not, and as of now I don’t see any reason to resign as I continue to serve Malawians,” said Chilima.
Chilima said he still goes to Capital Hill to work where he meets various people that need the vice president’s services.
The 45-year old admitted his soured relationship with President Peter Mutharika was because of “some” people in the DPP.
“These are people who gossip and sow seeds of division. These people seemed to have mastered the art of destroying the good relationship between the President and his Vice,” he said.
Henry Chingaipe, a political analyst has alsi questioned the DPP move to call for the Vice President’s resignation, arguing the office is protected by the Constitution, describing the move as too much ado about nothing.
He said the Vice-President can only resign on his own accord and said absence of impeachment procedures mean the DPP cannot forcibly remove him.
“The question is, is what the ministers are saying having any merit, perhaps what is happening is politically untenable but the office is a constitutional office, what they are looking for is a political solution. It might address the immediate issue but not the long term problem,” Chingaipe said in quotes reported by The Nation newspaper.
The fallout between Chilima and his boss Peter Mutharika follows the VPs announcement that he was leaving the ruling party and hinted on challenging for the presidency during next year’s elections.
During the week, the state trimmed drastically his security detail and the two sides have been at loggerheads trading accusations on corruption, among others.
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I would like to comment on Chilima’s narration of creating 1 million jobs a year.The way how Peter has destroyed jobs infrastructure in Country,candidly speaking,it will take a decade or more to creat jobs for unemployed Malawians.Let us face the facts,but Chilima came with a good notion that would uplift the living standards of young Malawians.We have some problems right now of acute unemployment of our youth generation,what methode would Chilima apply to secure such a big number?However,Chilima has shown his love to our young people of Malawi.He has not told them to chase Mbewa and grasshopper to eat,as the… Read more »
He knows he will not win and if he resigns he will forfeit his benefits.
Chilima you joined dpp knowing it was a bad party. You went there for money and not to serve Malawians. Please do not cheat us. You knew how Chilumpha and Joyce Banda were treated.
WANTHU WAJITUNDIRENGE APA…..MATUZI GHASUZGA KU BOMA KUTI WAWAWAWA
This is why we need to doubt the capacity of our cabinet ministers to serve in a constitutional democracy when they haven’t even read the constitution let alone understanding it. We have people people in senior party positions who have neither read the country’s party’s constitutions. It’s a shame really when these so called cabinet ministers demonstrate their ignorance publicly. The only best thing they can now do is to amend the constitution to allow a head of state to fire his or her VP. South African constitution makes allowance for that especially when the VP has placed the government… Read more »
SKC it’s super easy, just take them to court and they will shut up
COMRADES, YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT IT IS DPP THAT DID AL THEY CAN TO FRUSTRATE THE VOICES OF OTHER SUPPORTERS WITHIN THE PARTY WHO WANTED CHILIMA TO CONTEST AS PRESIDENT OF DPP. EVEN THE PRESIDENT SAID “NDIZAWANYENYANYENYA”. HIS RIGHTS AS A MALAWIAN TO COMPETE WERE VIOLATED. SO CHILIMA DECIDED NOT TO CONTEST AND EXERCISE HIS RIGHTS BY JOINING A POLITICAL MOVEMENT WHERE HE IS THE PRESIDENT, WHY SHOULD THE SAME DPP FORCE HIM TO RESIGN? I THOUGHT ITS PETER MUTHARIKA WHO TOOK AWAY RESPONSIBILITIES OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT AFFAIRS FROM CHILIMA? CHILIMA HAS DONE NOTHIMG WRONG HERE! BY THE WAY, WHY… Read more »
I don’t see Chilima’s logic to stick to VP role when he is blaming his own Government for corruption. What are you doing in a corrupt government really! Just leave government altogether and live like an ordinary Malawian. Only when you do that, people will trust you! You are wasting our money on opposing your own government. You are busy dramatising poverty and hardships that Malawians are going through. You are making merry everyday in the state house and you tell us you want change. Sure? After all looking at those drumming your support one doubts if you are a… Read more »
Coming of Manganya and Winiko makes it more interesting. Some of us were with this dude in School and have socialised with him and know he can be a good entertainer.
We have great entertainment during this election period! The best campaign strategy will win the day. It is always good to be positive and hopeful. The road to state house is never scientific. It depends on the mood and the wishes of the majority of the people. The main question people will tend to ask is ‘what is in it for me?’ If you can address this question properly you have high chances of gaining victory. What is in it for the followers of the movement? To end the elusive corruption and then hope that things will work out for… Read more »
Saulosi, yes you are right that we voted you into power together with APM . As a voter I want to remind you that I assigned you the job of Vice president for the entire five years and not 4 years in power and 1 year in opposition. YOU have cheated me. I agree with you again that you should not resign from government. But I ask you to resign from opposition because I did not vote you to be in opposition. my vote has always been a winner. you are betraying me the voter. Ndimakunyadirani bwana kuti mwachita zitukuko… Read more »
Malawians also voted for Peter Mutharika to lift Malawians from abject poverty and do so with integrity and ethics. So far it seems we have not gotten value for our tax money. Over K6 trillion of our tax money has gone to waste over the last 4 years with most it ending up in a few individuals pockets. Given that he hasn’t delivered on our mandate as voters, i urge Peter to resign. It works both ways Munthali.