Joyce Banda says Chilima to lead Malawi opposition alliance : ‘I’m 68 years, time for youth leadership’
Leaders of the opposition UTM-PP-Aford-Tikonze alliance have been meeting at the weekend to further the discourse on a joint presidential candidate for the upcoming polls on May 21 2019 and former president Joyce Banda has disclosed that Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Chilima will be their torchbearer.
The opposition alliance does not include the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), which came second to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the 2014 elections.
Chilima has fallen out with President Peter Mutharika, and has teamed up with Banda and two other smaller parties under Tikonze Dziko Movement ahead of the May 21 vote.
Speaking on BBC, Banda, 68m said she had withdrawn from the presidential race to pave way for Chilima, 45 to lead.
She said considering her age and the role she played in Malawi, she would settle for Chilima to be president, and that she would not even be his running mate.
“The vice president of this country who is also UTM president Saulos Chilima, will lead this alliance,” Banda told BBC.
“Do you know, we as Africans, are mature enough and can accept to allow other people to lead for the common good.
“I am 68 [years old] and I have done my part for my country for 35 years. I have been running for the development agenda; I have been a Cabinet minister vice president and president of the country,” said Banda.
Banda touted Chilima as a right candidate for presidency.
“I have looked around and said this person [Chilima] has got more energy that what I have,” she said.
Banda said there is power in unity and that the alliance will be a sure win for the opposition block.
“In this country and even in Kenya, we have seen the Orange Coalition, the Rainbow Coalition and it is normal during this time, when you have similar ideologies and similar agenda, you can form a coalition.
“For me, who leads the coalition does not matter,” said Banda.
The alliance said it would reveal its presidential candidate on Monday, adding that “there are grounds for a united front among Malawians discontented with the sad state of affairs in this country.”
The a torchbearer, most likely Chilima, who will pick his running mate and present nominations forms on Wednesday.
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Auntie,you had the privilege of being both vice-president and later The president mwamaliza,what do you want to be now? Give thanks to God for the favor granted and rest.
MAYI JOYCE BANDA I SALUTE AND RESPECT YOU FOR KNOWING THAT YOU ARE 68 YEARS AND OLD. AND THAT IS CALLING A SPADE A SPADE. NANGA MPAKANA KUMACHITA KUYENDERA NDODO ZOMWEZI.
She is scared of the skeleton in her cabinet! We all know she rooted government coffers in the name of Cashgate! After all she already lost while in government what more when in opposition?
This alliance has made me to quiet the party I was on sck back but now mmmmm tione Kaye Zina
Winning formula, lets take the statehouse.
When going to collect nomination papers didnt you know that you are 68 ?
Joice Banda now calling the shotts……kkkkk wamapesi watsala phulusa lokhalokha. Us in PP do now welcome SKC as our Presidential candidate, with Joice Banda Chairman of rulling party calling the shotts, kutha kwa UTM, wamapesi
How old were you when you were collecting nomination papers? mukufuna kukathetsa cashgate kkkkk jokes with malawians
Wina wakwiya Cadet , you were looking for PP to join u but Banda insisted that he can’t go to bed with Crocodile.
Kodi I thought you were campaigning and making promises that when you win the election. Why didn’t you nominate someone younger in your own party and you could have been using the resources you were using for all those meetings to introduce him to the nation. Kapena mwangochoka from 50 years to 68years last week you were not aware how old you were. From the time you came back from the US people were saying please Amayi, just retire zisiyeni izi, but you had to exhibit your usual selfishness and greed.
MCP crying kkkkk…………you wish he had joined you eh?…..Vuto la anthu a MCP ndi a greedy, they thought akapanga alliance adzawalanda maudindo akadzalowa mmboma, nanga achina Sidik Mia, Kunkuyu, Wakuda Kamanga ungawakhulupirire?…..Nde ndizimenezotu mudzikapanga mgwrizano ndi munthu mmodzi Khumbo Kachali………I didn’t even know kuti Khumbo Kachali ali ndi chipani until this alliance.