High spirits at UTM launch: Chilima launches Malawi presidency bid, hints on manifesto

Malawian Vice President Saulos Chilima, 45 made a strong political statement of intent presenting a considerable threat to ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in next year’s general elections when he launched ‘new hope for change’ – United Transformation Movement (UTM) at Masintha ground in the capital Lilongwe , seeking to unseat the 79-year-old  President Peter Mutharika.

Chilima: New hope for change
Malawi’s vice-president Saulos Chilima launching the Movement
Lucius Banda and VP Chilima punch the air to toast UTM launch
Crowds at Masintha ground at the launch of UTM
Callista Mutharika speaking at the UTM rally
Chilima going to the rally

Supporters of UTM were keen to put their stamp on Malawi political history.

They wore a combination of red and yellow T-shirts, bearing the slogan, ” Tsogolu lathu lowala, labwino, lafika”.

A frenzy of excitement rippled around Masintha as Chilima accompanied by his wife Mary, arrived in the Toyota Landcruiser registration number SKC 9933.

When Chilima rose to address the rally which was beamed live on Mibawa TV and Zodiak watched by millions both in Malawi and abroad even streaming on social media, he delivered a vintage speech, brimming with passion and emotion.

He started his address by calling all to respect those who lost lives in the July 2011 anti government demonstration.

SKC – Saulos Klaus Chilima  said: “The tendency of intimating Malawians is slowly starting to take its roots back in the country. I am not afraid and you too shouldn’t”

He told a mammoth crowd at the country’s political barometer which failed to accommodate the audience as some spilled to the nearby Kawale Primary school,  that  next year he will be changing his position from Vice President to President of the Republic through the ballot.

“This country is on fire and this mammoth crowd here tells us one thing that we all want to change,”said Chilima clad in red and yellow UTM cloth.

“ We seek votes from you and when we are comfortable we forget about the promises we made and start stealing public resources and this has been happening for all the past administrations,” said Chilima amid ululations from the crowd when he launched his .

He decried high corruption and nepotism cases in the country saying its high time UTM ‘clean the swamp’

Chilima  also spelt out some points in their yet to launch manifesto which will address among other things public sector reforms, education, health, security and power reforms.

“The money to develop this country is here. For example we know where to get the K145 million. We need to strengthen public systems and I can assure you that in the first  six months of my government we will deal with issues of lack of school fees and those people who have stolen public money should start giving it back now,” said an emphatic Chilima.

He also announced to the ulululation of the crowd that his government will end the education quota system and restore merit.

“We will end the quota system in our education system,” he said to the defeating noise.

Chilima also hinted that women will be “stopped” to dance for leaders but will be empowered to do business and can only dance when celebrating their “profits”.

Among other issues, Chilima  said land redistribution and review of land policies will among his adminstration’s agenda.

Chilima also deplored the issue of albino killings, saying government will ensure maximum security to end the ritual killings.

He said his party’s mission was to guide Malawi on the path to prosperity by tackling unemployment, power shortages, corruption and creating viable markets for farmers.

The UTM also unveiled influential politicians as party members, including the Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya, and former first ladies Callista Mutharika and Shanil Dzimbiri.

The Vice President was mobbed by people as he left the rally and his convoy moved at a snails pace to his official Area 12 residence.

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che nnungu
5 years ago

I he is really serious he should have resigned as Vice President too otherwise he is still in the stealing government

winston msowoya
5 years ago

CONGRATULATIONS PATRIOTIC MALAWIANS!!!!!! The Chilima rally is one of the biggest in the history of our country since independence 54 years ago.This is the proof that Chilima will lead UTM to economic and political freedom never experienced in our country.We of the Malawi diaspora,express our profound congratulations on UTM’s first occasion.We have no doubts whatsoever that comes 2019,Malawi will taste the sweetness of freedom and independence in 54 years.We have confidence in UTM in the sense that,Chilima has outlined his plans in contrasts of DDP and MCP which have resonated the overwhelming majority of our people from Songwe to Mangoche… Read more »

Na phiri
Na phiri
5 years ago

It’s sad that we are quick in praising someone who has been part of the stealing government. Why is it that he is withdrawing now after having a comfortable life with the so called mwala. Use a their to catch a thief

Panganani
5 years ago
Reply to  Na phiri

SKC NDI DILU.ASIYENI ENAWA AZIMWA DOUBLE DOSE YA NDULU YA NGONA!!!!…

GRM
GRM
5 years ago

Its time to vote for real change. I will vote Chilima into office

Mesimadzi
Mesimadzi
5 years ago

Personal glorification sizatha; Newton’s face deserves to be on the clothe.
Newton, learn from history. What you have done is exactly what Orton Chirwa did to Kamuzu with MCP and yet Orton Chirwa was the first victim of Kamuzu Banda’s tyranny. I would not be surprised to see you being launched as your new boss’s victim.

kaka ni dada
kaka ni dada
5 years ago

Anthu muli mnyumba imodzi mwabibilamo mwanunkha wina potulukamo aziti ine sinabibilemo nawo.
” Namkununkha sadzimva ” Dzuka Malawi dzuka!

Wokhudzidwa
Wokhudzidwa
5 years ago
Reply to  kaka ni dada

kkkkk! Zoonadi

Panganani
5 years ago
Reply to  kaka ni dada

SOUR GRAPES BAMBO!IF YOU CANT SEE WHAT WE SAW AT MASINTHA THEN HAVE YOUR EYES CHECKED BY A COMPETENT DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY.

oMachemba
oMachemba
5 years ago

Chilima’s speech was disjointed, and inconsistent: talk about corruption but no mention of specifics; no mention of “Tractorgate” when the big participator – Msowoya – is right on stage; no shame attempting a gusto punch into empty space, with the big cheater Banda – who committed one of the low life crimes in in this country, by obtaining, FRAUDULENTLY, the MSCE that enabled him to participate and win in elections, and sponged off the public that way. Chilima: you have no shame? How about the fact that Chilima was participant in the same government he’s accusing of malfeasance? He must… Read more »

mark
mark
5 years ago

MCP IS STANDING ON A VANTAGE POINT WATCHING THE FIERCE & LIFE THREATENING BATTLE IN THE VALLEY

YAYA
YAYA
5 years ago

So Chilima has borrowed a party UTP from Newton and renamed UTM?

Samuel
Samuel
5 years ago
Reply to  YAYA

Newton adali kadziotche kapena kuti ogwilizira. These two are best friends you can’t separate them. Chilima was sabotaging his BOSS for the benefit of UTP. Movement ndi njira yotetezera maudindi awo akuyembekeza mwezi wa March 2019 ndipamene Chipanichi chidzadziwike ndi mau oti UNITED TRANSFORMATION PARTY (UTP). Mudabwe kaya kuti chilembetsereni sadapangepo msonkhano wokopa anthu mudzina la UTP.

Dindi
Dindi
5 years ago
Reply to  YAYA

You havent followed correctly. The party was registered as UTP and UTM is its movement. However, parties can recycle names anyhow as long as they serve the intended purpose, there’s no harm in that.

Kambewa Chisale
5 years ago

Malawians we have our future in our hands by doing the right thing. Vote for Chilima. Chonde don’t make another mistake by voting for Nkhalamba. Mbava.Mchekulu and was dementia.

mark
mark
5 years ago

My friend i already voted for Chilima and Muntharika in 2014, they have both failed…voting for these crooks again Muntharika orChilima is making a dangerous mistake…….and am not doing it any more

mark
mark
5 years ago

We will not make another miskake, we are not voting for Chilima or Muntharika.. we already voted for them in 2014….they have failed and they are now fighting a blame game …. So we are not making another mistake this time

Wokhudzidwa
Wokhudzidwa
5 years ago

Ine sindingapange mistake yovotera mbava

mlomwe was Ku MJ
5 years ago

Masangwi, you have reduced one vote for Chilima from me. Do u think talking bad of Chakwera will give you votes. That was Masintha ground, all those people who were there are not UTM.

SPEAK LIKE A WISE MAN.

Chakwera has his own standards you can’t compare with U or UTM.

Mbava nokha nokha kuulurana.

Ziliko!

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