Malawi is ‘ripe for change’ says Chilima at Chatham House: I will implement dual-citizenship on ‘day one’ as President

Vice-President Saulos Chilima on Wednesday addressed the world-renowned think tank Chatham House in London  and promised to  implement dual citizenship “one day one” as President after the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections.

Chilima walking out of Chatham House in London
Chilima  at Chatham House: Malawi is at a juncture of change
Listening to Chilima’s address at Chatham House
Chilima greets Malawan based in UK Ken Bowazi at Chatham House

Chilima, who is leading United Transformation Movement (UTM), after he ditched the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in June and will challenge President Peter Mutharika in the presidential polls, said Malawi is at a juncture for change.

In his speech at the Royal Institute of International Affairs at Chatham House headquarters in prestigious St James’s Square, just a short walk from Buckingham Palace, Chilima themed his address: “How to generate political and public will to influence change in a complex democracy.”

He said those holding positions and their surrogates use every asset at their disposal to “blindfold, deceive and manipulate” the public especially in society like Malawi where illiteracy, poverty and destitution are high and citizens have limited analytical ability.

Chilima said the manipulations would include denying citizens access to information so they are less aware of what is happening; how much resources are available and what is being delivered.

“Manipulation further heightens to recruiting sympathisers including civil society organisations to speak in favour of the ruling elite and defend actions of the ruling elite even if such actions are harmful to economy and citizens,” he said.

But the Vice President said the movement for change will be unstoppable and that he stands ready to act beyond nepotism and cryonics.

“Nepotism has own beneficiaries, leadership incompetence has own beneficiaries and the beneficiaries numerically few as they may be would wield much economic power and afford to ‘hire’ mercenaries to speak in public media on their defence,” he said.

Chilima said there is growing evidence in Malawi that shows “citizenry fatigue” with status quo and “growing desperation for hope and change.”

He said the question is whether the larger part of the public is ready to prevail over tribal, nepotistic and regional considerations in favour of national considerations.

Chilima said since the launch of UTM for which he is the leader, the movement has established that the situation in Malawi is “ripe for change.”

He said the public is “ready to act beyond tribalism and regionalism.”

During his talk the issue of dual-citizenship was also tackled and Chilima told the audience that he will implement it “on day one” as the country’s President.

He said dual citizenship is something that is good in itself and for the effects it can have on a state.

Dual citizenship makes it possible for people with multi-national identities to retain those identities. It also makes it possible for such people to fulfil their obligations to the countries they are affiliated to.

Chilima wants to address lacunas in the current constitution that undermine democracy and democratic efforts when he takes power.

 

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Mwananyanian
Mwananyanian
5 years ago

Many of the suggestions or promises Chilima is making seem to be rhetorical: for example, how can he alone, as President, just make dual citizenship possible, just like that by waving a magic card on Day One. He is also preposterous, saying “when” and not “if” he gets the job. And he hasn’t even been interviewed yet. His approach leads one to ask – does Chilima really know his stuff – this is the stuff he should ace in an exam, as many of these are issues of which he was an understudy over the past FOUR years? And is… Read more »

Hatton
Hatton
5 years ago

Akuluwa ndi embryo(dzira) ya u dictator. Implementing dual citizenship on day one without both cabinet and parliamentary approval? Za u baby di izi. Munthuyu ndi mwana komanso mulukhu.

BigMan
BigMan
5 years ago

Koma these cadets are really fearful of Chilima, simunati.

Digging Deeper Keeps Democracy Alive
Digging Deeper Keeps Democracy Alive
5 years ago

Chilima why is it that you waited 3 years and some months to say that DPP top brass is corrupt. You knew from day one that Bingu, APM, DPP to brass were all corrupt. In fact you are as corrupt if not more because you, BB, with guidance from VJ from Zambia corrupted altered the electoral rolls to rig the elections. Its not at polling stations that DPP rigged the elections, no you and BB altered the electoral rolls.

fra
fra
5 years ago

we want change osati a register alibe nchito ameneyo the vice is big person here in Malawi can not be stopped with your tactics, amalawi tinapenya , a register akale choncho ameneo azikana ma paper kenako awalandila amenneo

frankoo
frankoo
5 years ago

ma cadet you have nothing to offer is a vice president and is doing it for Malawi a register alibe nchito mukuona ngati chilima awina chifukwa cha a register who is used by rulling party

Napoleon Muza
5 years ago

This man is a not serious. As of now many parties are competing and each has confidence of winning, even those that have only the president and other members not known. What he should tell those who are listening not him that “ if” I win. He seems to be imposing himself of the seat of the president of the nation. He seems to forget that some issues has to go through parliament for it to debate and effect into being. How is he going to introduce the dual citizen on the first day? Stop dreaming in the foreign land… Read more »

LIPHAVA NAMANDWA NGOLONGOLIWA
LIPHAVA NAMANDWA NGOLONGOLIWA
5 years ago
Reply to  Napoleon Muza

My friend Napoleon Muza, ‘day one’ is not supposed to be taken literally. Did you have problems at school with English Literature or English Comprehension subjects, Sir? Your comments are a shame.

Also Chilima is not a man of IFs. Keep that word to yourself brither if you are a doubter. He sees himself in that seat. That’s FAITH.

Napoleon Muza
5 years ago

Liphava, younare the one who don’t understand the statement day one.. What do you understand by day one, where you good at mathematics or Arithmetic.. Don’t be stupid thinking he can not use the word if. Remember this is a campaign period and every party has got its own agenda for the nation and they have confidence, but they will still say “ if voted into office” will do abc, not I will do this.nyes on day one he can make a decree after being sworn into office, hence you have to understand day one. You may say he is… Read more »

In Darkness Decomracy Dies
In Darkness Decomracy Dies
5 years ago

Chilima – Dual Citizenship would require an act of Parliament, so you cannot introduce dual citizenship on day one. In a democracy a President cannot grant dual citizenship without an act of parliament which may or may not be passed. So you are already behaving as a dictator. You walk and talk a dictator.

In Darkness Decomracy Dies
In Darkness Decomracy Dies
5 years ago

Chilima is a fox in sheep’s clothing.
Chilima is no democrat. Chilima and a person now diplomat serving in a mission RIGGED the election for DPP.
Chilima had said that he would reveal how DPP rigged the elections and then went quite.
Why?
Chilima was the one who rigged the elections. That is why, it was Chilima, VJ from Zambia and the diplomat.

Mulopwana
Mulopwana
5 years ago

Che Saulosi wasting his precious time in UK when his party is fighting out in Court for registration. Please come back and trot around Malawi to sell your empty promises while in a drunken stuper. Too much bidida and it makes your reasoning go down. Am even disgusted to hear that even your wife Maria sumumvera akamukulanagiza zoti uchepetse mowa. Yes yo are an adult as you told off Makondi and others when they came to your house to advise you to slow down on calresberg bee drinking. You make shameful Mr. Saulosi. We had trust in you when the… Read more »

Phalombewatch
Phalombewatch
5 years ago
Reply to  Mulopwana

But Newton Kambala cannot manage because ALIBE MFUNDO whenever he speaks on podium and mostly he takes about business and his profession which sounds clearly that he is imposing himself to be a politician and cannot lead the country. He has no such qualities may be if you think of the same guy wa Bibidayu but perhaps with a female running mate during elections and certainly UTM can sail through. Only if there could be a female running mate from the North and South to compete.

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