Chilima takes thinly-veiled dig at MCP over creating ‘expectations based on fiction’
UTM Party president, Saulos Chilima has appeared to aim a thinly-veiled dig at Malawi Congress Party (MCP) for poor expectations management o for its supporters over the outcome on the presidential election nullification petition case.
Chilima (the first petitioner) and presidential hopeful Lazarus Chakwera of MCP (the second petitioner)—want the court to nullify presidential election results over alleged irregularities, especially in the results management system.
President Peter Mutharika of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), who was declared winner of the elections, is the first respondent with Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) as the second respondent.
Speaking at a news conference in Lilongwe on Thursday, Chilima said the petitioners went to Constitutional Court with “specific demand” – that is to nullify the May 21 2019 presidential elections results and order fresh elections.
He said parties to the elections case should be managing its supporters on the true expectations from the court judgement other than “fiction.”
Apparently, some MCP members have been peddling the narrative that the Constitutional Court would end up declaring its party president Chakwera the rightful winner of the presidential race.
But Chilima, the former State vice-president, used his news conference by telegraphing his concern over political leaders failure to manage expectations and creating a fictitious outcomes.
“It is important for the leadership, this includes myself, to manage people’s expectations. We went to court with specific demand, we should not be misleading people, let’s not all over a sudden create expectations based on fiction,” said Chilima.
He said party supporters should be told expectations “based on what will prayed for or what we pleaded for in court.”
Stressed Chilima in his call to avoid post-election case ruling anarchy: “ People should manage expectations of their supporters. Let’s not create unnecessary problems in this country.”
The five-judge panel comprising Healey Potani, Ivy Kamanga, Dingiswayo Madise, Redson Kapindu and Mike Tembo will deliver the elections case judgement on Monday February 3 2020 in Lilongwe.
Chilima said whatever the outcome of the court, people should accept and the winners celebrate in peace and those would have lost should accept.
“Fellow Malawians, when the decision of the court is made, I urge the losing party to accept the loss with humility knowing that justice has prevailed.
“I also urge the winning party to celebrate with grace and civility knowing that there also people who mean well on the opposing side. There are some patriots indeed on the opposing side and we will need them when we go towards on the rebuilding of new Malawi,” said Chilima.
MCP spokesperson the Reverend Maurice Munthali has sincesaid his party will remain calm during and after the verdict as long as justice prevails.
President Mutharika has also called generally for peace too.
Asked if UTM Party would appeal the court’s decision if its prayer for nullification is dismissed, Chilima said there is a right of appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Malawi and that they would make a decision based on the judgement is it happens not to go its way.
“We have a right of appeal, once we have read the determination and for whatever reason there is need to appeal we will appeal, we can also say we have waved our right to appeal and let go…Life must go on,” said Chilima.
Meanwhile, Chilima also called on the Malawi Police Service to be professional and stop thugs that may want to take advantage of the tense situation to wreck havock and inciting violence when the ConCourt results will be announced.
“Police must step up to the constitutional mandate to protect the people of Malawi,” he urged.
He also appealed to the citizenry, including UTM Party supporters to desist from causing chaos.
“Fellow Malawians, even as we expect protection from the police, we too must do our part to maintain peace, law and order,” he said.
“This country has come too far to look back. We have endured binding poverty together, we have survived scorching drought together …. Indeed in times of happiness we have danced and sang together. There is more that binds us than that which separates us.
“Violence and civil strife are alien to this land. We must not lose this gem. This is what defines us as the people,” said Chilima.
Ahead of the highly anticipated outcome, with emotions running high, foreign heads of mission in Malawi have urged all political leaders and citizens to respect the court decision. Ambassadors and high commissioners from the US, UK, Japan, Norway, Germany, Ireland, and the European Union appealed in a joint statement for calm and respect.
Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Commander Vincent Nundwe has also promised tight security ahead of the judgement. The MDF and the Malawi Police Service have implemented a number of security measures to ensure stability and calm in the wake of the announcement.
This is the first time Malawi has gone to the courts for logical conclusion following a disputed election result. It presents a serious test for both the country’s democracy and the independence of its judiciary.
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A mature speech. I expected more this trend of people using political differences to attack people of a particular region is worrisome.
Saulosi, you have your party to manage or mismanage. You and your ex-convicts made a lot of noise before elections and fared badly thereafter. You are the one who put a spanner in the wheels of success for MCP. Look at how you presented the case in Court, just wait to hear how you will be scored in court. Initially you had written a letter of accepting defeat and you thanked your former master for ” stealing” the elections. When you heard our cries you turned around and withdrew the letter. That’s not the type of leadership sensible Malawians are looking for. We deserve much more than you can offer.
Waiting to see how the concourt will declare either a winner or rerun when the petitioners completely failed to produce alternative results. Is there any law in Malawi that support your expectations? Were the regularities submitted by the petitioners material enough for the court to declare the election void as it is stipulated in the PPE and MEC acts? This is what we are expecting to hear this forthcoming Monday. IN CAPITALS “NO WINNER CAN BE DECLARED WITHOUT A RESULT (FIGURE). Tiyeni tisapote zipani zathuzi koma tipewe kunamizidwa Malawi iri ndi malamulo ochuluka moti sitisowanso kumva maganizo ndi chifukwa chake cncourt idati chigamulo sichitengela mphamvu, kuopsezedwa kapena maganizo awamunthu koma umboni umene wapelekedwa ndi zimene malamulo adziko lino akunena. Tidikile lolembalo.
On this I will agree with Chilima. Chakwera is very stupid and wants his supporters to cause chaos because he has made them expect that the court will declare him winner.
MCP is way above the stupidity and childishness of SKC. SKC is a backstabber who back stabbed APM and is now busy back stabbing Rev Chakwera. Malawi and MCP are better off as far away from SKC who is power hungry and corrupt.
O Chakwera telling people togather at one place? It means u know u have lost the case. Poor mangnt style. Abusa!
Idiot journalist trying to create a story where there is none. Paja a Nyasa ka press briefing kamodzimodzi mumafuna kutulutsapo nkhani 10 in order to fill up your pages. Mathero ake ndi awa- writing nonsense
This is irresponsible reporting. This should have been in your “opinion” section. Saulosi could have been talking about anyone or anything here.
Iets wait and see
I can sense that Chilima is jelousing Chakwera, and yet Chakwera has not said anything to do with him becoming the president after Judgement. my advice to Chilima, please do not envy your partiner’s popularity, it is his time to shine yours will come.
Chilima is not jelousing, he is saying the trueth bkz i heard some supporters of MCP saying that a judgement wil say that Chakwera won n wil be president of Malawi, which is 100% wrong! Both Chilima n Chakwera went to concourt to nullfy the 2019 election
Kudzimva awa. Nthawi zonse kufuna kumadzionetsa ngati ozindikira, crook lachabechabe.
This is childish as always Saulosi. You cant be wasting time going to town with an issue which is not even an official position of any party. Even the sentiments about APM stepping down were clearly subjudice and insensitive. The only problem here is Nsanje a Chilima. By the way it will be a miracle if your feeble petition sees the light of the day on Monday.
WHAT IS WRONG HERE YOU HAVE A PROBLEM OF UNDERSTANDING SITUATIONS, HIM HAS SPOKEN WELL WITH OUT NO SIDE EVEN TO HIMSELF, SOMETIMES LEARN TO TAKE THINGS POSITIVE NOT ALWAYS NEGATIVE GOOD BYE
We all know the type of Malawi we have today, who doesn’t know that you the writer you are trying to put pressure on more Malawians to start think and or judging that the petitioners are fighting? What Chilima said should be written in a way of piloting the justice we all want, don’t be stupid just because you have a space of writing your useless thing here, one day all these lies you create in the eyes of innocent people, will come back to you. Stupid reporter.
I think Zaya must become a reporter. I believe you will be more professional and ethical in your reporting than the rest
WHO TOLD YOU THAT US IN THE MIGHTY MCP EXPECT DR. LAZ TO AUTOMATICALLY BECOME THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC? WE WENT TO COURT TO CHALLENGE THE VALIDITY OF THE ELECTION FOR THE COURT TO DECLARE IT NULL AND VOID SO THAT A NEW COMPOSITION OF MEC SHOULD CALL FOR A FRESH ONE, MWANZA INU OGULIDWA KU NYASAKO.
Is the court case about which party will win or just nullification of results and have a re-run?what kind of a journalist is this who just wants to leave people in dilemma and quarrel over stupid issues.i dont like this reporter.check even his english is so unorganised
ODDI UKOOOOOOOOOO
… in addition, he may have also said about managing people’s expectation because of the experience he had in May 2019 elections.
He went into elections saying supporters should expect only one result. Remember what he said during an interview he was asked what he would do if he lost, he answered “Funso limenelo mukufunsa olakwika. Mukafunse amene ataluzewo.”
He must have sobered up.
kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Here I come. Wait for ruling my boy!
I see a lot of sense in what Chilima has said. Chakwera is indeed creating expectations of his supporters based on fiction. He went to town to declare before the verdict is known that he will be the President of the whole nation. Nullification of election results does not mean Peter Mutharika being replaced by another President immediately. Doing so will require a process which is a fresh election who the winner will be nobody knows. Mind you this is politics, anything can happen. Much as the majority of Malawians agree that elections were not administered properly and Mutharika was quickly declared the winner before resolving stakeholders’ concerns, if not trading carefully people may sympathise with Mutharika and give him more votes should the court nullify elections and order fresh elections. Chakwera is behaving like a hungry lioness.
You Guys are missing a point.
Remember, SC Mordecai Msiska when he was asked by the Constitutional Court Judges, what remedies do you want us Court to do if the Elections were marred by irregularities and illigalities.
SC Mordecai Msiska said “The guilty like Muthalika, must be Disqualified”. The other remedy was, “lf you find that Dr Chakwera was robbed of Victory, please just DECLARE DR CHAKWERA AS THE RIGHTFUL WINNER OF 21MAY ELECTIONS”
This was a plea or a Remedy from 2nd Pertitioner, Lawyer SC Mordecai Msiska of Dr Chakwera.
So if MCP supporters are saying, declare Chakwera President, they are talking of Mordecai Msiska’s remedies or plea to the Constitutional Court.
Dr Saulos Chilima is also jealous of Dr Chakwera and MCP, l can see.
Ndiye mukunamizanatu. Muoloka bwanji mulatho mtsinje kulibe.
Do not put words in Chilima’s mouth in order to create a wedge between UTM and MCP supporters, that is morally wrong.
Everybody in UTM or MCP, knows that if the elections are nullified then there shall be a rerun……the only question that people have been debating on in the event of a rerun, is whether UTM should team up with MCP to defeat DPP with a wider margin that will be difficult for DPP to rig again…..not this nonsense that you have written in this article……
There is no rerun in the constitution you idiot
and the said need to team up between MCP and UTM is explicit admission that each of these parties could not have won alone…This is a fair conclusion. If you are confident MCP won why team up with UTM? If you are confident UTM won why do you recommend teaming up with MCP? Even more importantly if each party goes it alone none of the major parties’ presidents will get close to 50% of the vote. Why?
kkkkk Amene anena kuti concourt ilengeze kuti chakwera ndi amene wapambana ndi lawyer wao Msisha ,ndiye zikuonekanso kuti Chilima akufunabe ku khala vice kwa timasiku tingapo kuti akwaniritse zokhumba zake kkkk koma pepai achimwene udikira mpaka 2024 kuti ngati kunalembedwa kumwambako kuti tsiku lina mudzatsogolera dziko lino .
Useless journalist. It wasn’t a swipe at MCP. He said that because others are expecting him to become vice president again.
Next time I will be H.E. Nyaphapi One.
What chilima said is not part of the story. The writer is trying to divert the attention. Why not thinking of the truth at hand. DPP has already bought Judges and they planned to stage a mpinganjira saga. The money that Mpinganjira has is for Peter Mutharika. FDH is a gate to stealing from taxpayer’s. All dubious business by government is taking place at FDH Bank. We know they struggled to bribe the lady judge. Divert justice at your own risks. Don’t say we never told you.
CHILIMA ndi wa DPP uyu kupusitsa MCP CENTRAL region shaa!!!
Achilima uyankhulako mukuzikweza ngati akhoti angakhale ndi umboni wamunthu adawina palibe choletsato declare that person a winner. Ndiizo aPhinifolo wanu wawona mbwadza ku Lilongwe. Kuwaposa ndiwa DPP. Your party is still not established. You are building a castle in the air. At the end of there will be a rerun wowina wuja adamuberadi adzawina chifukwa sopazakhala zachinyengo. It is good to tell the truth because without the truth there is no consciousness.
I listened to the speech and I did not hear anywhere where SKC took a jab at MCP infact i think he was very classy !