Chilima-Usi pair ‘projecting modernity’ and generational shift— Analysts

February 7, 2019 Wongani Chiuta & Pius Nyondo - Nyasa Times 37 Comments

There were scenes of attraction in Blantyre on Wednesday morning when UTM Party presidential candidate Saulos Chilima  – hailed in dictating and controlling both the media and national conversational agenda – unveiled development activist Michael Usi as his running mate for the May 21 tripartite elections.

Chilima presents nomination papers to Ansah
Chilima signing electoral paperwork
Chilima shows his nomination certificate as Usi looks on
Chilima hugs Usi
Chilima and Usi: Generation shift.
Mary Chilima could be First Lady if UTM wins the elections
Chilima flanked by Michael Usi as his running mate and UTM secretray general Patricia Kaliati

Chilima became the fifth candidate to present his nomination papers to pollster Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) with  Usi as his running-mate, a choice commentators says is “thoughtful.”

Throughout the past two weeks the nation failed to unlock the possible running mate to Chilima with many believing it would be Atupele Muluzi but it later transpired that Chilima, after refusing Joyce Banda demands to have her son as running mate to UTM, insisted that he would defy dynasties and tribal politics.

Thus, to the surprise of many, Chilima settled for Dr. Usi who is among those that played crucial part in consolidating UTM establishment when his group, Odya Zake Alibe Mulandu, joined in July when UTM had just been formed.

“We have chosen one of our own. We have accepted to serve [the people of this country]. When you see us, you should see a new Malawi,” said Chilima.

Chilima said Usi, who will run for a parliamentary seat in Mulanje Central Constituency where the incumbent is Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vice president for the southern region Kondwani Nankhumwa, was the “best” choice.

And in an interview after the presentation of nomination papers, Times Group editor-in-chief George Kasakula said “the pair projects modernity.”

Said Kasakula: “They are both new and young. The pair will definitely achieve great impact, especially among the youth.”

Maxwell Phiri, a vendor from Zingwawa, said what he saw was what he wanted.

“Abwana ife tatopa ndi mayina a Muluzi, Mutharika, Joyce Banda. Kodi dzikoli ndi la mabanja okhawo. Apa takondwa kuti tioneko a Malawi ena ndipo voti yanga ayiphula(Boss, we are tired with Muluzi, Mutharika, and Joyce Banda names. Is Malawi for those families only? Today I am happy to see new faces running for President,” said Phiri.

For mayi Nankhoma, speaking with a baby on her back and had walked from Chemusa, said as long as Chilima was on the ballot it was enough to earn her vote.

“I have been praying for him. I was worried when the government was blocking registration of UTM. But today glory be to God. And the two are a pair of fresh air to Malawi politics,” she said.

The murmurings of students from and several youths were that of endorsement with others declaring this was indeed the beginning of the generational shift into post-Mutharika/Muluzi/Joyce Banda dynasty era.

As the pair’s vehicle majestically snaked into Comesa Hall the wave of excitement continued until the two disembarked to present the nomination papers.

Inside the mood was lively and electric and colorful up to speech time.

In his speech, Chilima said his candidature presented a generational shift to put to an end politics of dynasties and tribes.

“In endorsing this ticket you have put to shame politics of dynasty and tribe. Indeed, you have re-affirmed your commitment to the idea that our personal, family and tribal interests should be subordinated to the interests of the nation,” said Chilima.

Chilima, credited with building UTM in a space of seven months and turn it into a formidable force in this election, said while the nation acknowledges the achievements of past leadership and commend them for their efforts, the country must now focus to modernity.

“We cannot fix this country by clinging on to the same failed tribal politics of the past. When you go to Phalombe, the poor men and women there are suffering just like the poor women and men of Dedza. When you go to Mangochi, the men and women there are suffering just like the men and women in Ntcheu,” said Chilima adding;

“So when politicians try to divide us on tribal or regional grounds, they are only doing so because they have no ideas on how to transform this country. That is why even when you go to their so called strongholds, you shall still find innocent Malawians wallowing in abject poverty while their leaders are swimming in billions of stolen public funds”.

Chilima said he stepped forward in these election because he wants to be President for everyone and that UTM’s stronghold is the entire Malawi nation.

“There is no Tumbuka poverty; there is no Chewa poverty; there is no Tonga poverty; there is no Sena poverty. All tribes are suffering in this country. And that’s why I tell you today that I am not running as a Chewa or Ngoni candidate. I am not running as a Christian or as a Catholic,” he said, posed, and then continued;

“Let others claim those epithets if they want to. I, Saulos Klaus Chilima, I am running as a Malawian and my stronghold runs from Chitipa to Nsanje, from Mchinji to Mangochi and all parts in between. Malawi is our stronghold. And our structures are in the hearts and minds of well-meaning Malawians crying for change in the land of their forefathers. And I shall be a president for all Malawians’’.

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37 replies on “Chilima-Usi pair ‘projecting modernity’ and generational shift— Analysts”

  2. Honestly speaking, Chilima and Usi are great orators! Simply put, they are crowd pullers. Atupele , Lazarus, Nankhumwa and Peter are not very fluent and articulate.
    This will change a lot of things. Manganya is another Bakili Muluzi calibre. Chilima is equally good. You will see the campaign speeches coming after this Friday onwards.

  5. A LION IS STILL A LION EVEN IF IT MOVES FROM ONE MOUNTAIN TO ANOTHER. THIS CHILIMA KID RIGGED THE 2014 ELECTION AND DELIVERED US INTO THE HANDS OF THE PRINCE OF THIEVES, PETER MUTHARIKA, AND HERE WE ARE..STRUGGLING WITH LIFE LIKE NEVER BEFORE. THE GREATEST BETRAYAL WE CAN DO TO BELOVED MALAWI IS VOTING FOR SAULOS CHILIMA AND HIS FUGITIVES TO RULE THIS COUNTRY. NEVER NEVER NEVER MUST THAT HAPPEN IN THIS COUNTRY. CHILIMA IS THE NUMBER ONE ENEMY TO OUR PROGRESS AS A COUNTRY.

  6. SKC seems to be unstoppable. He is young , energetic and with a good vision for our country. He has my vote. Wake up Malawi!!!

  8. These so called analsysits puzzle me. Who is new here? Chilima? The guys is the Vice President. He has been tried for the past 5 yrs and you say he is new. Well, it’s good to say in your capacity as a matter of expressing personal opinion. Chilima is one many who has failed to delivery on almost everything he was tasked to do and you want us to on experiment again?

    1. Zomulembera anthu ena izo. Do you remember his promise to introduce free malaria drugs which are already free? That’s how useless he is.

      1. Kupeza anthu anzeru kukulembera speech ya nzeru nde nzeruzo zimenezo, enawo sanawapeze olemba zoterozo bwanji………kumati “you have tried the rest now its time to try the best”……..Sidik Mia the best?, Kunkuyu the best?, Zikhale ng’oma the best??….I beg to differ

        1. Koma Masangwi, Ngalande Kaliati ndiye anzeru. Mwayiwala Ngalande akuyenda ndizikwanje mtauni ndi ma blue boys ake. We cant escape stupidity anywhere. You just pick your poison.

    1. Ndadabwa,
      read this speech which he said at COMESSA hall, then indeed if you went to school u will acknolwdge brilliance in that speech, now wait for your mafi mutharika, you will notice mediocrity in his speech terrible professor, natty professor shameeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

      2. APM’s speech at UNGA was described the best among all leaders. So akamalubwalubwa kuno timadabwa.

  15. SKC expose medicalgate at central medical stores with aid of Ministry of trade officials . Akugula Mankhwala opanda tenders. malawi procurment laws clear all procured items should be tendered and malawian manufacturers must compete and they get 15% prefrential rate. here no tenders macontracts given at over 200 percent of normal prices. SKC ACB investigate this story save malawian taxpayers

    1. The silent majority are with SKC. SKC and MBU (Michael Bizweck Usi) is a perfect pair. Please transform Malawi for the better

  17. Over the years, I painfully observed the marginalization, ridicule and arrogant celebrations for deliberately planned defeat of democracy, the plight of the voiceless and good will for the people by this same group that people are clapping hands for today.

    The Independence of the ACB and the accountant general and other top offices proposed by the majority opposition party was fought against and its defeat celebrated by the state president and his team, the very team people are clapping hands for…

    There’s more …
    These same ones laughed us off,the poor, somewhere in the north telling us that we do not need fuel for our lives to be better in the villages, today, we are clapping hands at them.

    The same that laughed off observations that there’s corruption in this country,too rampart for our Development, and they boldly stood on podia dismissing what you and I, or at least, I and the majority others felt, poverty and being lied to over and over.

    Isn’t this the highest order of ridicule and being taken for granted? For the same to connive and agree to cheat us again in style?

    Yes, we can sympathize with those that have faced unease in their parties for various reasons, but looking at their characters, should we really trust them to run the country and miraculously become the direct opposite of what they’ve shown us to be?

    Anyway, I just love the country, just as many others. The vote is yours Malawi. Think about this and may the best candidate win.

  21. Fundo zokhazokha mwana iwe, Eish! Umandibanda heavy when I listen to your Vision for this country .

    We are ready to cast our votes for u, we really need new blood in politics . The likes of you & Usi indeed my vote is for u gentlemen.
    Asiyeni wolira azilira koma boma ndi la UTM this May 2019.

  22. Very nice article ….the article aimes at bringing the hope which is not there…..

    1. Tman said that Malawi is not for drama and yet we notice Mutharika’s drama every day. Gensets were ordered and Malawians were promised an end to blackouts, but alas! It got worse, isn’t that drama from a president. It baffles my mind to hear some Malawians doubting the integrity of two energetic young Malawians who have the potential to modernize an impoverished country. So should Malawians trust the wisdom of APM and Goddall generation?

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