Malawi possible veep Chimulirenji has English language deficiencies

February 12, 2019 James Nthondo -Nyasa Times 66 Comments

President Peter Mutharika’s running mate Everton Chimulirenji can barely read and speak English fluently, a prerequisite of one to perform well especially in the high office of the Vice President.

Everton Chimulirenji and hos wife (left) likely to be the country’s vice president if Mutharika re-election bid succeeds on May 21

The revelations about Chimulirenji communication inabilities started emerging in 2014 when an aspiring candidate in Ntcheu North East constituency Joseph Malingamoyo, challenged Chimulirenji’s victory after the 2014 elections.

According to affidavits filed in court for the case, Malingamoyo claimed that Chimulirenji did not qualify to be a parliamentarian ‘because he cannot take an active part in parliamentary proceedings due to his inability to speak and read English well enough’.

Malingamoyo also claimed in the case that Chimulirenji presented his brother’s certificate to deceive Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) and alleged that Chimulirenji also used the same certificate when he was elected as an MP in 2009.

He also said Chimulirenji failed to make any contribution in the National Assembly throughout his tenure from 2009 to 2014 because of language deficiencies.

This matter was also reported by the country’s leading daily newspaper, The Nation.

A political analyst wondered that if Chimulirenji was failing to communicate properly in English which is the official communication language for government, during his tenure as a Member of Parliament, how is he going to work effectively as a Vice president of the country.

“We must not take this issue lightly, this is a serious issue. Actually I have never heard him contribute anything in Parliament and this is bad for the country,” he said.

A Cabinet minister who did not want to be named also noted that ‘Hon Chimulirenji has difficulties expressing himself in English; even a written speech in English is very difficult for him’.

Chimulirenji’s CV does not specifically mention his qualifications apart from saying he studied for a business management course.

“This is dangerous for the country. We cannot have a Vice President who cannot speak English properly. We should be serious for once. This is the man who can take over running of the country in case of any eventuality that the President cannot continue,” said another political analyst.

“I attended a function in Lilongwe when he was deputy minister of defence and when time came for his speech came, it was horrible, the man couldn’t read a prepared speech in English, most government officials and other people at the function were embarrassed,” he added.

But President Mutharika has already defended his preferred choice, saying he had settled for Chimulirenji because of his integrity, educational qualifications, outstanding performance and a team player who would effectively help him run government for the next five years.

“He understands the difference between a vice-president and deputy president and that a vice-president is always delegated and the vice-president will never be a co-president,” said Mutharika.

Chimulirenji, 56, is also part of Mutharika’s Cabinet, served as deputy minister for Defence before the latest Cabinet reshuffle took him to his present portfolio as Minister of Civic Education, Culture and Community Development.

He is also the party’s deputy national director of elections, a position he was elected to at the party’s national convention in 2018.

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66 replies on “Malawi possible veep Chimulirenji has English language deficiencies”

  2. I disagree with all those who are saying proficiency in the English language should not be one of the criteria for choosing a president. It should.

    In the Malawian context, proficiency in the English language denotes that one is educated. Our education is conducted in the English language.

    Don’t compare our vernacular languages with international languages like Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic etc. Our vernacular tongues are deficient and limited in a lot of respects. People in Russia learn nuclear science in Russian; those in China learn calculus in Chinese. Can you teach theoretical physics in Chichewa? Can you teach econometrics in Tumbuka?

    Proficiency in the English language should, therefore, be a criterion for anybody to assume crucial leadership positions in Malawi. It’s traditional leaders who can either have an education or not, it doesn’t matter one way or the other ( it’s only our brethren in the north who select traditional leaders who have gone to school – that’s why they are cleverer! )

    Bottom line is, if Chimulirenji is really deficient in the Queen’ s language, it’s really sad. Very sad. If by a twist of fate he has to become president of the republic, how is he going to read all those memos and files and reports that a president has to peruse? Upulezidenti si unyakwawatu!

  3. Fellow Country men, fluency in English need not be the must have qualification for leadership. Hon. Chimulirenji can address gatherings in Chichewa, and have someone, to translate. Our friends in Tanzania, do this. Even the Chinese leaders have translators.

    What is important is to have a leader who has a vision and courage to lift the welfare of his people, a leader who can be a father, to the fatherless, and a beacon of hope to those in desperate stations of life.

    History has many an example of a leader was not considered fluent, or had a speech defect. The story of Moses; in the Old Testament, testifies to this.

    Selection of leaders, though done by men, is often divinely inspired. The story of little David, in the Old Testament, is an apt example.

    God’s plans are not ours. Likewise, God does not judge and measure a man, using man’s yardstick.

    In the fullness of time, we will, without doubt, get to know why Hon. Chimulirenji was selected running mate of APM.

    My best wishes go to Hon. Chimulirenji. I pray that he will live to walk and fufill the destiny that has been laid, before him.

  4. He only needs to know two words: YES SIR! ……… And he will be just fine. Kikikikikikikikikikikikik

  5. Bravo Chimulirenji you are superb amene sakukondwa nanu ndi MFITI basi – ife tizakuvoterani pa 21 May kaya wina afune asafune ife ndi a PETER – with DPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

    1. I agree with you Jamax. All the best Chimulirenji. Abale mpando ndi umodzi tiyeni tiphunzire kuti sitonse tingathe kukhala ma veep pa nthawi imodzi. Ndiponso sakanachokera ku mwera pokhapokha ubale wapakati pa DPP ndi UDF ukanetheka koma mmmmmmmm.

  6. Once he becomes VP he will go overseas to purchase an honorary degree just like what Muluzi did. I can volunteer to be his English teacher after that. I would love to give our VP sukulu yakwacha.

  7. Why is that a problem? He only needs to know one word… “YES” kkkkkk. Zuma also had ma deficiencies but was president! Besides, we already have ministers who are worse than messengers and watchmen so this is in line with the current standard. You don’t need to be educated only to say “yes abwana”

  8. Go around you savages. Does President of Russia, china and all rich Arab countries speak English well. What a MYOPIC WRITER

    1. Unfortunately you are comparing mangoes and guavas. Those countries you have mentioned are developed countries. Malawi is a begging nation. If you have to beg better, you need to understand language of your donor. Even during regional meetings, it is only English and Portuguese spoken. Kulibe Chichewa. Chimulilenji is our own Idi Amin in making in terms of use of Queen’s language..

    2. you are write my friend. why Malawi? Please ndipo ndikupempha kuti Chimulirenji asagwe ulesi ndi anthu ansanjewa please

  9. Those whom we call educated are the ones amafuna kukwera bwato pakati pa nyanja. Mind you all the vice presidents in the past spoke good English but all of them wanted to be presidents before their turn. Look Nchilima failed to hold on. The moment he go his PHD (,pull him down) then started growing wings.
    Know this Votes come from villagers who don’t speak English

  10. The writer of this article is the most daft I have seen on this online newspaper. This is our DPP runningmate, not for the opposition . Makape a opposition muli mmadzi. Mumvetsatso. All your plans have failed. You wanted to influence APM to choose a wrong person. DPP will not waver because of you shallow campaign. You are wasting your precious time. DPP GOAL is to achieve eighty five percent landslide victory. Kaya mufune musafune azi zichitika ndithu.

  11. Another God given chance to disqualify dpp from the elections has availed itself. Please opposition parties, use it soonest.

  12. What interests me is that he is duputy this and deputy that. What is wrong with his seniors. Not good enough to run an office then to runnings. Za ntiiii

  13. Mcp and Utm please take this issue up with Maneb, courts and if proven that the msce he presented is not his, both dpp , APM and Chimulirenji will be disqualified and dpp will not be removed from the elections.

  14. Achina Ben phiri ayambapo kumukhobola! What matters ndima quality awu lidala basi apa. Dr chaponda well educated man but so so evil, mbava yeni yeni. Goodal gondwe otha chizungu koma mbava yothelatu. Look at the president himself is not either fluent in any langage, a professor but mbava yothelatu. You know Puttin of russia uses interpreters but he tells the USA president and UK prime minister go and shit your in your pants! Malawi language is chichewa. Ngati satha chichewa tiuzeni. He is a minister how is he managing this post mwina kapena kumeneko nde amalankhula chichewa? Za ziii! Mukunya muona!

    1. My friend, Putin is very educated, he is a brilliant lawyer. The only reason why he can’t speak English is because the education system in Russia is not taught in English, it is taught in Russian, simillary with China. But here in Malawi our education is taugt in english, so this Chimulirenji guy has no excuse. Its either he is not very educated or he is just dumb.

  15. It’s his second language.even man ma journo English yanu yophotchokaphotchokanso.mimadalira wina akupangireni edit iyaaaa.mwasowa cholemba eti lembani ma issues Ena a iyeyo..is he the only one with such deficiencies?

  16. Speaking and understanding fluent English is tantamount to “educational qualifications ” , like HE describes his new Running Mate. Especially in Malawi were Secondary and Higher Education is taught almost solely in English!
    Of course nobody likes a running mate with better skills…, but unfortunately in Leadership it is not like in Mathematics where two minus make a plus!
    To guy with a deficit rather add up to a big one!

  18. Guys if you see presidents in foreign countries you will notice that some of them fail to speak English and they are able to run their nations to prosperity
    Am MCP die hard but what’s wrong with Malawians these days with too much English but no money imagine the Chinese is here collecting money in shops with English yet they are wealth men’s. lets look to ideas not and the problem is they taught us English but not ways to find moneys
    Chimulirenji was chosen so respect him as favor is in his side

    1. Malawians, like any other ppeople from developing countries need to be able to speak english so that they be able to communicate with colligues from developed countries. Untill when Malawi is developed and be able to run without external support thats when you argument will apply. Even those chinese when they come here they teyry as much as possible to speak increase or chichewa because they need us for their business.

    3. Usatinyase iwe shupiti MCP diehard wakuti cha DPP iwe. Speaking and reading English is one of the conditions for eligibility to run for high office so what are you talking about

  19. Ok ifenso akabaza ndi anthu akumudzi ndife Otsaphunzira ndiyetu chaka chino tivotelana wosaphunzira wokhawokha ,inu ama PHD nu muvotelane tiwone a wine ndani. Lets wait and see educated people vote for those who have PHD , uneducated people we will vote our friends . I was once MCP but now i have join DPP to follow uneducated friend of mine Chimulirenji.

    1. Simukumva zimene zikunenedwa apa. Sakunyoza kusaphunzira kwa anthu. Akukamba za mtsogoleri wa dziko. Musapsye mtima anthu inu mvetsetsani zonenedwazi.

  20. Kaya amatha kaya satha. ine uyu nde pambali penipeni. DPP AND ALHOMWE GAME OVER. KKKKKK Bola Chilima.
    ndivotela chiloma. he is more convincing than these other things.

  26. APM deliberately chose a lame duck so he does not face the Chilima style show-down. Penapake credit should be given to Chilima (despite his own short-comings – and all of us to have our own) for being able to stand up to APM.

    Zawonekeratu kuti “akulu’wa satithandiza” – as someone already expressed the same sentiments in one of the previous articles when “Mr APM-Running-mate Chimulirenji” said “akudziwa his place”. If, while MP, he never contributed anything in parliament then this is already leading to failure of epic proportions.

    Kodi tilibe anthu ophunzira ndi anzeru ku Malawi’ko? Tayang’anani zikuchitika ku Joni chifukwa chosankha president wosazindikira (the past 9 years) . The guy couldn’t even count – no wonder amangotapapo ndalama thinking sizitha. Panopo Eskom (amongst so many parastatals) ikumapanga ‘load-shedding’ ngati ku Malawi’ko sinking the already tattered economy into total dis-array. Zinazi kumapanga zothandiza anthu’ni. One can easily see these guys do not have the welfare of the ordinary Malawian at heart.

    1. Hon Chimulirenji has been appointed as Running Mate by APM. To me whether he speaks poor English is immaterial. Even our First President in Multiparty Era had problems to speak English but he ruled well.

  27. Zimvere muntolo .Apa ndiye ndi game over. Anasankha paja ndi mayi ndiye zili bwino. Paja mayiwo maphunziro awo ngopelewera. Koma anapatsidwa u doctor ndi u professor wa ukhondo wodzala maluwa ndi kusesa misewu ndi cleaning services.
    What do you expect from this family.??

  31. I wonder why he said if the president tell him to jump he will say how high not why. This show the guy has deficiency in head to be a minister let alone being a vice president. Whilst we do need a leader. A person who is a std 8 guy cannot be a vp of the country whilst those who have MSCE can be messengers, watchmen, ojiya, olisha ng’ombe.

  32. Ine ndimadabwanji a Nyasa Times kumangoti he studied Public Administration without mention the school he went to. This really raised so many quetions.

  33. Hehehehehehehehehe nyasa times kuseketsa. Everton had presided over so many functions with his presentations in English, Loud and Clear. Nenani zina koma izi ndiye ayi. Mwasowa chifukwa chomukumbira, akusephanitsani. Mumva kuwawa. Ameneyitu ndiye our Vice president. I wonder why your focus is only on Everton. Kkkkkkk.

    1. And one of the functions he took part and spoke was this year’s chines year where he spoke fluent english. I have the audio, i can send it to some of you haters. Live our future VP alone.

  35. Ineyo mwana wa Adadi ndikuti Chimulirenji yemweyo kuti wawawa! Mukwiye mukwiye! 2024 Everton Chimulirenji Boma…tione zina!!!!

  37. Stupid runningmate piked by nutty Professor peter Mutharika, how can we have such a guy as a running-mate

    1. Alhomwe ake ndani akutelowo. Ine mulhomwe ndipo ndikumugomelas. Chitsankho chabwino by our president. Chipani cha DPP si cha alhomwe okha ngati momwe atola nkhani wena amalembera, koma amalawi onse.

  39. Mwsyambako.Wamukwana nguwo.mulekeni avale.Ehen did you know this bwanji ngati mumadziwa kuti analu ndi certificate yokuba bwanji simunatiuze kale kake?

  41. Can we for once recognize ourselves as people with a language on this earth please. How come we have only one foreign language as official language when we know that we fluently speak Chichewa? Chimulirenji here is not the problem but our laws are the problem. This is high time we changed the neocolonial law and liberate ourselves to speak what we can. Imagine South Africa has 8 official languages!! What is wrong with us to feel sorry just because one cannont ably speak a foreign language?

  47. Is English the all-it-all in such positions? Talk about qualifications but obviously not English. We have so many leaders in this world who do not speak Englis. Mulira naye Chimulirenjiyu simunati

  49. Remove the thorn in your eyes before doing like wise to others. Check the English word below the picture of Hon. Chimulirenji., you wrote hos wife but should be his wife . English problem also.kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk, ha ! ha ! ha ! ha! This is a learning process baba.

  51. So all this time he was serving in many government portfolios you didn’t or mention his difficulties? Only now when he is heading to the vice presidency? Okay ndikuonatu anthu a nsanje apa. Amalawi kukonda kugwetsana tokhatokha.

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