Dzuka Malawi: Five options for Saulos Chilima

August 5, 2019 Rudo Tariro -Nyasa Times 54 Comments

I promised last week to start analysing the post-election period for politicians after starting off with Civil Society leaders. I want to start with Saulosi Klaus Chilima, the immediate-past Vice President and leader of UTM Party. For simple reason he has the largest social media and real media machinery.

UTM Party president Saulos Chilima

Chilima unfortunately emerged the biggest casualty of the elections. His whole UTM executive committee was simply unelectable- they couldn’t get seats in the Central Region, and only one in the North, East and South.

At his age (46)  and likelihood that he will run again in 2024 or a re-run should the court think there was some funny things are higher than Reverend Lazrus Chakwera  of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and most of the  Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) wannabe’s. So, the five options here should help decide whether he really wants the Presidency or face another humiliation:

  1. Recharge UTM structures

The massive loss even in Ntcheu, shows there is fundamentally something wrong with the structure of the UTM. He needs serious characters who have really done Malawi politics beyond Patricia Kaliati,  Noel Masangwi and Richard Makondi’s. Failure to get elected as a councillor or MP shows that most of the selected candidates did not fit the bill or merely, they all were cheating him. The challenge is UTM is managed by people seen as frustrated, some who jumped from other parties. This is quite destructive for the image of a new party. By the time the same people go back to their audiences, nobody believes them that they represent change. Masangwi and Louis Ngalande are attached to Robert Chasowa’s murder case, Makondi his own corruption case, Callitsa is not the most popular first lady. It is difficult to convince a voter that UTM means anything new. Add Iqbal Omar from his fights in UDF,  Richard Msowoya, Jessy Kabwira versus MCP and even  Anita Kalinde vs Peoples Party. The road to May 21 was already defined by who surrounded Chilima. Seeing the same faces that had left after fights in other parties meant that supporters from those parties-even the moderates would shun the UTM. The reality is stop sending people to work on structures, start conducting elections in wards, constituencies, districts, regions and re-do national convention. Everything done in 2018 was a sham, including the primaries.

  1. Election case could kill SKC chances

UTM has assembled a brilliant legal team, exciting, but only in court. The court of opinion among voters is that it is unelectable. UTM is not ready for elections. MCP has a weak case. But should the court order a rerun, today, only DPP and MCP has realistic chances not UTM. This is reality. Chilima should push for electoral reforms, build a party and be ready for 2024 elections. He should have left the DPP win in doubt without pushing for a rerun. Otherwise should DPP win, it will be difficult for him to make a convincing case in 2024. Should court order a rerun- the UTM will lose badly, MCP will be actual winners!

  1. Stop speaking like a war lord

As a transformative leader he should have maintained his calm, reduce attacks and appear to be the leader for all Malawians. Watching him chant “osaopa” dressed in military fatigues, removes the image of a caring religious down to earth leader he built overtime. It is common to hear people  speak of him as arrogant and sharing his speeches like “I came to say bye” at Kauma or “sabera”. It seems Chilima still believes in playing for the urban and educated. His team should do analysis of the elections results and will see urban areas vote output versus rural areas. He needs to court conservative party aligned voters to his cause. His language and attitude will contribute to gaining peoples trust. Otherwise, he will learn the hard way, Malawian voters prefer humble politicians to rowdy ones. Brown James Mpinganjira, Gwanda Chakuamba and  ChakufwaChihana provide perfect examples. In 2009 Bingu wa Mutharika was facing the arrogant “tube chopopa ndekha” in 2014 Peter Mutharika faced a Joyce Banda who justified everything against public opinion. If he wants to win, SKC needs to tame his speeches. He needs to do it now.

  1. Make peace with the Southern Region

From 1994 todate only a foolish politician would ignore the Southern Region and expect to occupy State House. No. Actually it is more than being stupid to subject the region to attacks and expect they will vote for you. SKC lost the Southern Region when he spoke “next time I will go to the South” and allow his lieutenants to chide or challenge “Blantyre or kummwera”. The sentiments makes the region as being against him or the UTM. He needs to make amends, preach peace and show the region how they are equally affected. As his teams that visited the North and Eastern Regions a few days ago, people who support the DPP are likely to vote for it again and majority are in the South. He needs to break the DPP majority in the South to head to plot number 1. He can do that by showing he care for them, not antagonise them for their current choices. There is still time to make amends.

  1. Provide Leadership

Whose tune is Chilima dancing to? CSOs or his party agenda. The danger now is both him and Reverend Chakwera walk the same stretch, shore up support but it is Timothy Mtambo and Gift Trapence of Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) leading the way. The MCP has been asking its councillors and MPs to contribute to the people. People don’t follow those behind others. If APM has been quite SKC option is to provide leadership, call for peace and become a father of all Malawians. Then he can start dreaming of State House. Otherwise walking beside Chakwera, Mtambo and Trapence does not build him as a leader, rather a follower. It was MCP that conducted first demonstrations to courts. SKC might wish to pull out of demos and lead in being the mature leader, or he might  invent his own protests unique and not like demos like every Malawian wear red on a certain day or stop for a minute of silence at a particular minute and day. Otherwise he should stop following and provide Leadership. Nelson Mandela was outside ANC ruling team in jail, he became a leader even whites voted for, because he preached peace. SKC can leave MCP and its violence, Mtambo and his fight, and be the champion of peace.

Many accuse President Peter Mutharika of lacking leadership qualities, the three leaders so far Mutharika, Chakwera and Chilima have equally shown that personal ambition overrides reason. SKC could make himself outstanding, should he become a statesman, than an emotional follower. 2024 is already 3 years and nine months away. Remove the campaign year and the wasted 2019.

Next, Reverend Lazarus Chakwera options.

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54 replies on “Dzuka Malawi: Five options for Saulos Chilima”

  1. The problem with your analysis Toriro is that you are asking Chilima to be what he is not! What he is showing you now is what Chilima is! He is a man who makes the wrong decisions each time! A man whose vision seems to be stunted and so associates with the wrong group! he had it made in DPP. If he was much of a politician he would have taken it easy and slowly built up a base of his own and take over in 2024. As it is not only has he been “forced” into this position by the likes of Calista( she told the nation that they will force him) and has gathered all the unpalatable politicians around him but now he is barking up the wrong tree! Do you honestly believe that Jane Ansah resigning will make Chilima a believable politician? NOOO!!! He needs to spend time analysing where he went wrong and building up but instead he is destroying the same country he wants to vote for him!!! Do you think if my filling station was ransacked yesterday I would vote for Chilima when all is said and done? He is not a politician! He does not know how to help himself let alone help Malawi ! his main goal is power! It frightens me that if he ever took that office what damage would he do! I can’t see any statesmanship in him! He really should reconstruct his life and leave politics. He will make it, he is young. even a book on what is happening now will make him a lot of money but the best for him is leave politics.

    As for Chakwera he knows that this is it! He just needs to accept that and find alternatives but he is just as toxic and will never be able to develop into a statesman for our poor Malawi. People will remember how destructive this irresponsible terrorising of Malawian citizens did to them for a long time because the country is struggling already and we don’t need this destruction!

    Can you see any investors getting interested in Malawi at this stage?

  2. It looks like somebody has been hired to do some biased reporting. You shouldn’t have chosen this platform. You, Tariro are not in a position to decide what’s good for Dr Chilima. Please be objective in your commentary.

  4. An analysis from one ill informed Malawian dude. No substance at all. What does it mean to make peace of South. Who owns southern region? No sense
    !!!

  6. The difference between the southern president: APM and centre president: Lazarus is just 3% and about 170 votes and this gap has always been narrowing expect in 2009 when Bingu got 66% and the difference between him and Temba was 1.5 million. Anything can happen don’t think the southern region will always lead.

  8. The author of this article is a zombie, an inhabitant of another planet. He does not live on planet earth.

  9. Excellent analyses. Unfortunately war-loard Arafat is too arrogant to listen to great advice and continued to shoot himself in the foot.

  10. Wadzivera wekha m’bale wanga pano nthawi yokokera tindalama tomwe munaluza nthawi ya kampeni osati kulimbana ndi munthu wa mkulu leave professor alone.

  12. Amalawi anachenjera bambo.This is the usual DPP tactic of divide and rule. It has been interesting to see the writer for some time hide the side of the fence he is on. But there comes a time when the paying masters demand more. This is the time and he has been forced to show his hand. The writer has to act now because desperate times call for desperate measures. Unfortunately, Malawi will never be the same again. Your days my friend are numbered. The writing is on the wall. Say what you want to say but history will show that when Malawians needed someone to follow to defeat crooks, Chilima stood with them shoulder to shoulder. It is not how many bank notes you stuff in your pocket but principles which build a leader because banknotes will one day be blown by the wind. very difficult to kill an idea as you are finding out. Malawians are hungry for change. Who knew that mafia will be defeated one day? The count down has already began.

  13. Totally disagree with the article. Being sober minded leader and doing it nice has never worked in Malawi. Malawi needs tough talking and a tough leader.

    Points for the writer and the other commentators who are in agreement with such a one sided, article:

    APM is such a sober and docile person. What has Malawi benefited from such personality? Has APM provided the type of leadership you are championing in the article?

    Malawi needs a tough leader like SKC. SKC never changes. He is stable with decisions. He has succeeded in many things by being SKC. That is what you call leadership. A strong leader never goes with the wind. Strong leaders stick to their personality traits. You have to be who you are not copy anyone else to be a good leader

    Reading between the lines, this article is a typical reflection of the current weak mentality which permeates in most people in leadership positions in Malawi. Malawi has never gained or benefited from such poor and weak mentality. If you cannot challenge the injustice now, what would stop the perpetrators of injustice today to commit the same injustice in 2024? Accepting injustice as “business as usual” is what has killed Malawi. Malawi is where it is now because historically, Malawians have accepted the status quo. Now is the time for the change in approach so that anyone who dares to violate the laws in future of the land must re-think before they commit criminal activities against citizens. Malawians are not the same. Malawians will not accept business as usual. BAU is weak

    The article wants SKC “to be like them” … It has never worked for Malawi. If the article believes that its contents are valid and beneficial to Malawi, give us some examples where such approach has ever worked in Malawi? 55 years, there is no example to show

    SKC is a unique breed of leaders. There are not many out there. While most of you writers like Rudo and other commentators are hiding behind the keyboards, using fake names, commenting here, SKC has shown steel and his mettle – no fear, coming out in open to challenge the injustice being perpetrated by DPP on people.

    Making peace with Southern region is not a valid point. On what bases do the writer assume that UTM is at war with the Southern region? If the vote was not stolen, the writer would have had the hard facts and actual demographics of the voting patterns. SKC was at par and even winning against APM in some of the districts in the South. UTM’s campaign was based on the principle of a national party not a regional party, l which really worked for SKC

    This article is full of fantasies. The points raised cannot work in Malawi. Good try writer!

  14. The south voted DPP
    Remember kamuzu built lilongwe while he was in Blantyre
    He lived most of his life in Blantyre
    That is how he survived 30 years
    He made the southerners believe he was there own
    Osadziwa akumanga nyumba kumudzi
    Insult the south at your own peril

  15. I’m 100% with you Rudo. If there is a guy I’ve deeply felt should lead Malawi, it’s Saulos Klaus Chilima. Unfortunately, the path he is taking is worrying me. I wish he could read such articles and comments with sobriety.
    As already said in the article, it’s a known fact that the last 5 years of DPPs Peter Mutharika rule is going to be a goof and the populace will need change more than ever. It’s also a known fact that Chakwera, MCPs giant that would take them into the promised land will have retired, according to their constitution and selling a new candidate will be no simple task. A re-run will give Chakwera and his running mate not less than 70% chances of winning. MCPs win this year will mean the extinction of UTM, unless Chilima desires to join MCP after UTMs demise, and that would only giv him a chance to lead after 10 years, “assuming their convention elects him which is also unlikely”.
    Restructuring UTM in preparation for 2024 was the best way to go for Chilima, than running in the streets with a mixed multitude of both academics and nothing-to-do thieves who end up vandalising properties of your very would be voters.
    Accepting defeat (though knowing deep down that the vote was rigged), would have been more gentle than this drama which is keeping the lives of innocent Malawians under panic.
    Rethink your plan Chilima before your reputation is completely eroded. Otherwise, I, personally still feel you have all the qualities Malawi needs in her leader if she is to progress as other counties are progressing.
    Long live our peace and prosperity! Long live Mother Malawi

    1. My friend you thinking like your are incapacitated,
      Mind you there is no space for theft…. We think about our taxes being miss used like rigging

  16. The author is delusional and probably high on some banned substance! He is looking at a different election from the one we are looking at!

  17. Tariro fairly hits Chilima with criticism so hard the nail breaks in the wood, because the latter is brittle at the knot: Chilima has shown no tendency to change in terms of personality, and yet personality is such a fundamental part of any political equation. Who would want to sit down with Chilima for a cup of coffee of lunch, when the guy shows no humility; but rather exhibits hubris, as stated, even to the extreme?

    The largest social media following is politically meaningless in a country like Malawi, for obvious reasons.
    Leadership in business is easier than political leadership which can be fickle; unlike your employees, voters are NOT dependent on your paycheck. Chilima needs to get this point, already, and it’s implications especially regarding his electability. The sense of entitlement has to go.

    He lapped up the sweet music fed to his ears by the Kaliatis, Kabwilas, Kalindes, Calistas et al. like it was a promising new genre: in effect all they knew was was to tell him what he wanted to hear. More ego pumped up … positive feedback loop. In effect, they used him for what they thought to be their personal objectives. The same way MCP is using and outsmarting him in the current court case, as again, highlighted in the article.
    Simply put, Chilima seems to not have the ability to see beyond the immediate stars in the periscope: really farther out is where the gems, or messages in this analogy, are actually hidden. Is he really political material?

    Can Chilima actually mend fences in the South? More severe damage has been repaired, and political lives resurrected elsewhere; but not necessarily in Malawi.
    Chilima had better sober up, real quick, if he’s to be the first VP in this country to be elected on his own merits to the Mpando woNona. Here doubts if he’s really up to the challenges. But I wish him luck, to be sure.

  21. Good ideas surely I second your sentiments Mr. DZUKA MALAWI you have really written something that will give SKC time to think and go back to his political drawing board. He must ask himself why he failed so miserably????? in fact this could have been a wake call for him.

  22. Rudo, by coming up with this analysis;i think you have done little research about Chilima.As a matter of fact our political culture does not lend us to produce true leaders.Chilima has no traits for leadership than being a manipulator or a liar.One cannnot imagine to see him as being the lapdog of Mtambo and Trapence who are disoriented in our society.Chilima is as good as a puppy which is confused because he lacks vision,passion and purpose for what he pursuing for.He is just preoccupied in getting what he intends to achieve than serving the poor as being manifested by what he has been pushing for.”A bitter spring/well cannot produce sweet water”.

  26. So you call this an analysis? Too speculative, amateurish and shallow minded scratch of third world opinion. #shame

  27. UTM Members were the casualties of rigging in their constituencies if they had challeged their loss we would see the same issues discovered in Nsanje & Chikwawa of ballot boxes full of MEC reflectors only. SKC to preach peace with DPP at the helm not at all zimenezo after ichoke kaye DPP.

  28. Only intelligent and wise people can able to understand this unfortunately most malawians are less minded to digest all this

  29. No matter what you can say bad about Chilima, please your writing will never change our focus for UTM.

  30. CHILIMA LOST MY VOTE FOR 2024. I LIked the guy he is smart. But he speaks to wound. Generally he is not gentleman

  32. The article made only on crucial point: Chilima has time, which the others don’t. He can endorse chakwera now as the one who won the 2019 election, but insist that we will continue to provide critical oversight as a president of a new vibrant party. Come 2024, he will be the unrivaled front runner. He has time, and he needs to position himself in a manner that allows him to be likeable by MCP supporters (the chakwera crowd) and his own. These two groups will push him into office in 2024. Chakwera will not run again.

  33. Munthu wa mulungu ovuta ngati chakwera munthu woyipa ife anthu amulungu tikakhala ndizovuta timawawuza atsogoleri kut andithandize palibe munthu amakhala mdzogoleri popanda atsogoleri , onse ndi inu mumawasankha kuti akhale atsogoleri.koma ndi bwino ndi mdalitso kulemekeza atsogoleri kut atithandize ngat anasankhidwa kufikira atakulumbilitsa tiyeni tonse tigwire ntchito limodzi palibe angapeze udindo popanda mulungu.

  40. kodi adpp wa achita kupanga hayala malipota awo awo kuti ayesere kupolisha peter ndi jane? mwanyatu mulephera malawians know the truth and tasamba mmaso mwauponda

  42. That’s very much true. I wonder why my dear Chilima behaves in this way!!! How I wish he should read this article as well and positively think about it.

  43. Another piece of stupid reasoning. Which UTM lawyers are you applauding to be better than the Mordecai led MCP team? Za matama a UTM basi!

  45. Pumbwa uyu ndiye utinso. Walemba this article with full if hate for Chilima. The article is clear the author hate the popularity of SKC. He is scared that should the rerun be declared, all those who did not register will do so enmass and vote for this young man. This is the fact. Thieves and looters are equally scared hence such articles to drive potential voters away. I can assure that the rerun will be in UTM’s favor like it or not. Campaign yayamba tsano.

  49. Pali mau woti uzadya thukuta lako, meaning that without sweating then u won’t ripe anything, so SKC is sweating for his own benefits.

    He has done nothing wrong to express his right to protest where things had gone wrong.
    You need people to sit quite and watch where things is going wrong????

    I think you don’t know the history of Nelson Mandela you just give as an example, Do you think Mandela was advocating peace b4 he was arrested and castrated for 27yrs in jail????

    Mandela was one of the guerilla leaders who fought under ground against white regime .

    SKC can’t seat quite as a leader and watch his people suffer, good leader will join the suffering people face just as he is doing right now. Then come re-run the same people he was suffering with will give him their votes.

    He mentioned about South bcoz some of you treat it as your Base, so he was challenging you to know that for him does not regard South as DPP Base but part of Malawi where every citizen has the right to build, marry or campaign freely without hinderous.

    I Rest My Case.

  52. THIS IS 2019 BAMBO, YOU ARE SIMPLY INJECTING TACTICS TO SIMPLY SPLIT A UNITED FORCE HOPING TO WEAKEN THE SAME IN THE PROCESS, NOT SURE YOU EVEN KNOW WHETHER YOU ARE MALE OF FEMALE.

    FATSA CADET!!

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