Chilima wins plaudits for condemning political banter at UTM rally

Vice-President Saulos Chilima, who is leader of UTM party, is winning plaudits for condemning political castigation by one of the political orators George ‘Sesa-Sesa’ Saonda made at a political rally in Chikwawa on Sunday.

In remarks broadcast live on Times TV and Zodiak TV, Saonda attacked Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera and his deputy Muhammad Sidik Mia, saying a “pastor” and a “sheikh” have teamed up but their political relationship is not righteous as it won’t last long as cracks will emerge soon.

But when he took to the podium, condemned the remarks by Saonda.

“I should respond directly to the remarks that have been made here that a certain sheikh and pastor will bite each other. This is not right and, if I don’t say it now, it would look like we agreed to make this statement.  As leaders, we should be sensitive.

“I am sorry if what was said on this podium has offended anyone, this is not the aim of this rally. The aim of this rally is to present policies. I am hopeful that in future my fellow senior members will choose their words carefully,” Chilima said.

And on Monday at rally at Khonjeni Primary School Ground in Thyolo, Saonda personally apologized for the remarks.

“I want to apologize for the words I uttered yesterday. Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima corrected me saying we should not speak as these other parties do and I apologize,” said Saonda.

Concurring with Saonda’s remarks, UTM Secretary General Patricia Kaliati hailed Chilima for taking a board step in condemning the remarks.

And University of Livingstonia social and political analyst, George Phiri, said by condemning the foul-mouthing right at the rally, Chilima has set an example and demonstrated the character of a good leader.

“Chilima demonstrated courage and this is the approach we need,” said Phiri.

He said politicians should learn from Chilima to adopt issue-based politics.

Ernest Thindwa, a political science lecturer at Chancellor College—a constituent college of the University of Malawi said when party zealots go astray, they need to be condemned there and then as Chilima did.

“Unfortunately, not many political leaders are that courageous to make that stand,” he said.

Thindwa said other political leaders should learn from Chilima to practise politics that is competitive in terms of ideas.

Malawi’s flagship newspaper, The Daily Times, has also used it editorial comment to commend Chilima for condemning Saonda’s remarks, which it pointed out were unnecessary unacceptable and uncalled for.

The paper commends Chilima for owning up to his party loyalist’s mess , cleaned it up publicly and set matters straight.

“Such boldness reflects good leadership and urge other parties, including the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, to learn to censor their loose cannon and stock to pertinent issues,” reads the paper’s editorial comment.

The paper reminded leaders that many countries have plunged into ethnic conflicts due to reckless remarks.

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34 replies on “Chilima wins plaudits for condemning political banter at UTM rally”

  1. Proud of you SKC! lets not stoop down to Apumbwa’s level we should be above the fray!!!………you got my respect and my vote!

  2. Total respect and admiration for SKC! you are the real deal. Saonda good job for the public apology, zimenezo asiyileni a Geleseda ndi a Mchacha

  3. Well done SKC! and well done Mr Saonda for owning up to your mistake, GREAT RESPECT FOR BOTH! lets stick to issue based campaign leave dirty politics to Apumbwa

  4. Good job SKC! that was very classy of you, you are in your own league Sir, and kudos to Mr Saonda for the public apology, You put Apumbwas to shame!!!!

  5. Chilima in his own badmouthing calls APM pumbwa etc and you think chilima is honest in repremanding Saonda? By repremanding Saonda, Chilima simply wants to steal MCP votes in lowershire and nothing more. Mwana wamwano uyu chilima.

  6. Namalengeni sopano why not correcting himself when he call others “apumbwa” this young man is very intelligent but not wise

  7. To me what Chilima has done is a clear sign of maturity. He has also conveyed the same message to those who did it previously and those who may be tempted to do so. Lets not just speak because we support a different party. Even outside politics very few can do that.

  8. When his lieutenants attack DPP does he rebuke them? Kaliati was attacking APM by saying that he will be next to be involved in sexual scandal like other DPP members before. She indirectly meant that APM will follow Bingu way of demise. Many believe that Bingu death was related to failed sexual activity .l heard her correctly. She is busy attacking DPP personalities esp APM. She has gone very far. Now I am ordering fatwa on her . You came to Thyolo and insulted Mulupale you will be taught unforgettable lesson

    1. People like you yaphama i don’t argue with. Let me put my comment on simple term just for you a standard eight drop out to undersatand. Chilima condemned Saonda for attacking Chakwera and Mia because it is a party that he one day wishes would make an alliance with. If it were DPP that was attacked, Chilima would’t have condemned Saonda. Another part of my comment says, Chilima is publicly condemning castigating, but then what would you call when you accuse someone for trying to kill you yet you don’t have proof or evidence? And remember this is chilima who is claiming to have been hunted by DPP. I think i have put it in a simple way enough for you, yaphana, emarire vava ans duduzane to understand. Ndatha ine wanu JJ Mbewe the Pathfinder.

  9. I’ve been saying this guy he’s a choose one, that’s the kind of leadership we want not leaderi who controlled by the gurus WELL DONE MR CHOOSEN ONE

  10. what a shame.. Kaliati appluads chilima kikiki this funny …these are the same people and have two votes between them ! You need popularity too much and as such you cant see your weaknesses because you are over applauding yourselves

  11. What else do Chilima’s detractors want him to demonstrate for them to appreciate that he is the kind of leader that Malawi needs? Bwana SKC, continue teaching them what good leadership is all about even before you have taken the keys to the high office. I for one am glad that you have done this at this particular time. Let’s hope that as is becoming the trend now, leaders of the other political parties are going to copy what you have done. Let us fervently hope that the Mchachas and the Jeff wa Jeffreys of this world will be reprimanded right there and then on the podium if and when they make “rotten “speeches of foul-mouthing their political opponents.

  12. Bravo!!!! our next his Excellency the president Dr Saulos K Chilima ndi a mene a Malawi timawafuna keep it up. tikuziwa kuti ndiwe musogoleli osanyengela zopusa ayi. Timphele A mbuye Mulungu muyike zeru zokuyuya mwa munthu ameneyu maso phenya ake azapulumuse ziko lino mu moto wa mavuto tikupempha amen

  13. But yet it’s okay for Chilima to point a certain party as assassins without any proof. Yes he claimed to have seen his so called assassin, but how could he tell it was DPP who sent the person? Look i think Chilima condemned saonda either to be glorified politically or because a party that was being castigated was MCP and he is still hoping Chakwera will still agree to the terms of their alliance and be second in command of Chilima’s. I’ve never seen or heard and it will never happen that Chilima would correct or stop any of his members from castigating anyone from the DPP side.

    1. @ Pathfinder
      Kodi ukuti chiyani?. What chilima did is what your president is supposed to be doing. You are such a chaotic person.

      By the way Pathfinder did you know that your president (APM) lies too much?. He lied about his fathers death. He lied about callistas conduct during Bingu’s demise . Two days ago he lied again that he was personal assistant to Chipembere. Kumudzi kwathu kulikoma munthu wotereyu timamutchula wa mthira . Koma bodza ndiye lilimo lonse MWA baba a mutharika

  14. Next you will see Mchacha talk rubbish in the presence of his President, but nothing like what Chilima will happen because to them that is doing things differently.

    1. Maunits, don’t you think it’s you who does not understand Chichewa idioms. Ben PHIRI did not mean APM ndi maliseche. He was trying to present a metaphorical meaning. It seems some people like you enjoy making big of trivial matters.

      1. Reure, there are so many idioms that Ben should have used (eg fodya wako ndiuyo ali pamphuno, etc) osati maliseche umabisa ako, uku kankono katabisa maliphyatha. Muziona zobakira.

      2. Komabe amwene of all metaphors and hyperboles, kusankha maliseche kukhala chowafanizira a President? Uleme unachepa apa.

      3. Reure don’t waste your time arguing with some of these fools such as maunits, banker jimmy and many more. These people will never understand what a metaphor is and they’ll continue making a big deal out of it. Ndi mbuli zenizeni, ukhoza kuona ndi anthu amene amawaombera mmanja kapena kuwasapota. Let’s show them who we really are after next year’s election. We are the winners!

      4. Did you see the video fool? he was pointing to his Maliseche while talking about his boss kikikiki kikiki there was no metaphorm at all

      5. Off all metaphors he chose Maliseche KIKIKIKIKIKIKIKI, there is no defence for that…… ndiye upumbwa umenewo

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