Malawi court orders registration of UTM as political party

November 2, 2018 Wongani Chiuta - Nyasa Times 68 Comments

The High Court in Blantyre  has ordered the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties not to continue withholding the registration of the United Transformation Movement (UTM) of President Peter Mutharika’s political ally-turned-nemesis Vice-President Saulos Chilima.

Chilima: UTM

The registration of UTM was rejected because the Movement opted to register using its abbreviation of ‘UTM’ instead of the full name which is ‘United Transformation Movement’.

However, lawyer Michael Goba Chipeta, representing Chilima,  argued that it was illogical for the registrar to base his decision on information not provided by the applicants saying, besides, the movement was not granted a chance to be heard as required by rules of natural justice.

Presiding judge John Chirwa in his determination quashed the reasons by deputy registrar of political parties Chikumbutso Namelo  that they cannot registrar the movement because of its use of the abbreviation instead of a full name as undemocratic.

The court said UTM can be registered as such and ordered Registrar of Political Parties that UTM should be duly registered as a political party within seven days from September 21  2018 which means the party is now officially recognised.

At the court UTM supporters mocked and denounced their perceived destructors and oppressors as “small kids” who cannot match them at their political game, in obvious borrowed language of their leader Saulos Chilima who usually refers to his main opponents, especially the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as “afana” (small kids) who cannot afford to rig 2019 elections.

The judgement on the UTM registration will  precede a fundraising dinner and dance the movement has organised at Comesa Hall tonight dubbed Kuwala Night which Chilima will attend and address the patrons.

Chilima will also be addressing a rally in Nkhotakota on Saturday.

 

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68 replies on “Malawi court orders registration of UTM as political party”

  2. oMachemba, does your pumbwa have anything to offer? Chomwe amadziwa ndi kusolola ndi mulhakho basi! Mukodzedwa ndithu!

  3. The first rejection by the learned judge was just another political propelled decision. Zinthu zinazi we just waste time and Gvt resources knowing what the real outcome of the verdict should be like.

  5. It is simple logic. Suppose another party is born with similar abbreviations but different name, will that party be registered quoting the law that has just been created? The deputy registrar knows the law better. ……
    After all that is the ruling of the high court. There is the constitution court and also the supreme
    Court of appeal to deal with this unprecedented confusion.

  6. This hurdle may now pass for UTM Bus Company, but the future is not bright at all. No kidding, this hurdle was an ant hill, and dwarfed by the mount Mulanjes ahead – getting adequate funding for a defining convention, and campaigning to convince voters that Chilima/UTM are the best alternative, among many.
    Clenched fists showing off gym muscles, proverbs and kandebvu to make Chilima look wise will not cut it.
    Malawians want alternatives that have substance and are realistic.
    Osati zija tinaona pa HARDtalk ndi Zaina Badawi zija. Man, Chilima was just floored! Unforgettable.
    The guy has nothing in terms of policy knowledge to show for all the four and half years he spent as an insider!

    1. Your argument is baseless and totally off! No one has articulated their vision for Malawi better than SKC. Do you really believe in your heart of hearts that UTM has no money for a formidable convention?? You are in for a big shock ……..keep sitting in denial fool

    2. Which Malawwians are you speaking for? DPP Malawians? As for HARD talk, people will not make decisions based on that interview, it all depends how political one’s ears were. People drew a different conclusion. I find it hard that in a democracy people can not accept that Chilima has decided to take his path., and other people are walking with him. What is wrong with that?

  7. Lets get to work SKC and UTM , that was just a stepping stone for us! Lets spread the word and continue to build grass root structures, lets knock on every door, go to every valley, every mountain top, do not leave one stone unturned, we an do this

  8. My hope and faith in my country has now been renewed, at least we have a functional judicial system, Thank you Jesus!

    1. Iam happy to hear what the court has determined. This is democracy at work. We fought for our beautiful in 1993 in collaboration with churches particularly the Catholic. The Court’s decision is fair and reasonable. Thank you our justice system, you have served Malawians on democracy well.

  17. Pano ndiye mumumvadi kuwawa !!!!! Mumayenda mbali a pumbwa we are going to paint the who country Red and Gold

  24. Mwapindula nji? Mwapatsidwa chani? What you have achieved though is to give UTM the much need publicity and morale as this issue was highly reported in the public media. I recommend you for that. Sometimes other people’s stupidity is a blessing to others.

  28. Waona Namelo! I told u that UTM will be registered as such! manyazi bwa? Kupusa basi! You were getting orders from executive thieves, akupusisa mphwanga! Democracy will always win. Yellow card imeneyi! Wait for the red card on …………19
    . Kuwala kuti ngweeeeee!

  29. @ Adada, ndiye kuti ndizoona kuti mukumuopa Chilima eti? Nanga appeal ndi ya chiyani ngati zikukukhudzani bwanji? Tinene kuti ndi DPP inapangitsa registrar kukana registration of UTM? Ndipotu mukodzedwa ndithu ndipo gogo wanuyo akomoka!

  31. A waste of time and resources by the Registrar. Why not register the party then let the voters decide. Judiciary have a lot of cases to deal with without bringing on unnecessary work load and building up hype.

  32. apm & the democratic pangas party onse ali mmadzi hahahaha, get ready to exit the government & to get arrested. SKC is headed for the presidency!!

  34. Politics it about ideology but remember amalawi siwopusa ayi they can see and wait the big judgement it is still on the way ppl in the village they have power to judge so DPP watch out

  35. @Mbanji, how I wish you were close to APM. For a better Malawi we need to be united, no Chewa, Lhomwe, Yao, Tumbuka, Ngoni, Mang’anja and Tonga. United we stand and divided we fall. Unfortunately most of our political leaders are far from accepting this. They have failed to walk the talk.

  37. Why do we keep anthu opanda nzeru ma office? This was a straight forward issue. I don’t understand the assistant registrar. Which school did he go? Kungozipangitsa manyazi and kulakwitsa anthu ena osalakwa anyozedwe. You deserve to be fired with no pension. Think of the money spent on this case.
    Government get rid of him.
    God bless the judge.

    1. Do you honestly think the poor guy refused to register UTM out of his own volition? He’s just a poor victim of DPP’s misrule like the rest of us…

  38. Mukamakwela musamaponde ogwila makwelelo chifukwa mudzawafuna potsika. You refused to register UTM for flimsy reasons. Now you see what could happen if UTM led government. Stupid puppets.

  39. Maulemu Kwa Mabwana ndi Mafumukazi; We should desist from loose language whenever a case goes our way, let’s portray a building spirit for this nation. If the side loses support the winner. This sort of behaves encourages a spirit of tit for tat, we don’t need that. Our focus should be on development. And that mean Nsanje to Karonga. One nation.

  41. I think maliseche was ripped about the judgement. Dzana wanena kuti campaign will be hot. I mean ngati atakhale ndi moyotu

  42. Mmmmmmm. Agogo lero BP ukwera osati masewera. makadeti asokha kuti adziwakupiza madzi. Bravo our courts.

  44. Moto kuti boom!!! Chilima sesa Chilima… apumbwa onse kutsegula mmimba.. mumati mutani ng’ooooo ife tikunva kukoma

  46. pumbwa pamenepa ukava bwanji hie to all cadets this friday
    November wayamba ikundivetsa kukoma UTM ndi deal

    1. Every sane citizen of this Country should give Chilima a chance, I have a good feeling about this. Akadzalephera, which I strongly doubt, we shall go for another person, let’s give him a chance. I do not belong to any political party yeah, but just for the sake of development.
      Salute to those in the leadership now

    2. palibepo nkhani apa apumbwa nkhawa alibe inuyo mukungolubwalubwa kambani za nzeru osanangonena za DPP apa ayi mantha ett?

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