Chilima says right VP crucial: Urges Malawians to scrutinize running mates

State Vice president Saulos Chilima has urged Malawians to critically scrutinize running mates to the presidential hopeful, saying some of them might not be up to the job.

Chilima and his running mate Dr Micheal Usi

He said just like presidents, vice presidents should be well qualified for the job because they are expected to take over the presidency in the event that the president has died or is incapacitated.

“We should take the 2012 scenario when our former president Bingu wa Mutharika, may his soul rest in peace, was called to the Lord and Dr. Joyce Banda who was the vice president had to take over the presidency.

“This is how important the office of the vice president is. This is why we need to scrutinise the people vying for this office, they should be well qualified for the job and ready to take over the presidency in the event of eventualities,” said Chilima.

The UTM president did not say whom he was targeting for the remarks although some political experts say this was an indirect reference to Everton Chimulirenji, president Peter Mutharika’s running mate whom people say does not have prerequisite qualifications for the second most top job of the land.

Chimulirenji’s command of spoken English leaves a lot to be desired and some people allege that he has a junior certificate of Education as his highest academic education achievement.

As Chilima was indirectly attacking Chimulirenji during the Kasungu rally, Chimulirenji was directly attacking Chilima in Mzuzu, telling journalists that the vice president sponsored people to demolish Mutharika billboards and pull down DPP flags.

UTM publicity secretary Joseph Chidanti Malunga has dismissed Chimulirenji’s allegations as childish.

The choice of running mate has the potential to considerably boost or damage a presidential candidate’s chances. Malawian voters can’t be taken for granted.

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PDM
PDM
4 years ago

What I would like to advise Dr Chilima is God choses who he wants regardless what we think of them.Remember the story of David in the Bible?So let God be God and kneel to put his plans in your favor while you are remembering Chimu is also his child who has the right to his choice and favor.I rest my case.

Mwananyanian
Mwananyanian
4 years ago

The arrogance and the not so subtle bragging by HARDtalk Chilima really sticks in my craw.
Furthermore, are we voting for a President or a VP? And all Chilima is doing is hiding his lack of political acumen behind the satirical facade of Usi. That won’t work, as most people have already made up the minds, having seen through Chilima’s half baked economic ideas, wanton criticism of others’ ideas, and apparent projection of personal superiority.

neba
neba
4 years ago

SKC is right, am also sure that in the rejected electoral law qualifications for presidency and his vice were set. so its crucial aspect that malawians should look at. history tells us when bingu died JB took over but what happened new baby cashgate were born and affected alot of people.

Mzomondo
Mzomondo
4 years ago

One important quality of VP is the one with stable family and that he takes his wife out for people to see. If you do not declare your wife in public then you are a threat to people’s wives, daughters or nieces out there even mothers. Please bring your wife out or else we will think you are gay!

Julio
Julio
4 years ago

This man Chilima is a joke. Politics of ndiulula is wasting this man to the bone. We expect him to have access to important information in government. There is nothing new in informing us about the rot in government. In fact what he tells us is not worth secrete. It’s what we are all aware of… and yet some adults clapping hands for him…..hmmmm this make is a threat to democracy

Chemussa
Chemussa
4 years ago

How ironic…. -:)

Brian Ntupanyama
Brian Ntupanyama
4 years ago

The right running mate is the one who is an entrepreneur or simply put a businessman. Please take note we do not need anyone who will not mentor young people into serious business persons. Mia is one such a successful entrepreneur young Malawians should learn from osati zinazi….

WANA
WANA
4 years ago

Chilima, you should be the last person to say that. You were unfit yourself that’s why unapupuluma.

Silombela
Silombela
4 years ago

You are a very rude vice president.

nkhulande
nkhulande
4 years ago

mfundo ndi bodza zatha! Kusowa zonena tsopanooooo!

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