Malawi President publicly congratulates VP Chilima: Cools off rift fears

Malawi President Peter Mutharika on Wednesday for the first time took to social media to publicly congratulate and wished his Vice President Saulos Chilima all the best, apparently to show the cordial relationship.

Writing on his official Facebook page on Wednesday, President Mutharika said “let me congratulate the Vice President Saulos Chilima who has been appointed to serve on an international body that seeks to support countries in eliminating hunger and malnutrition.”

President Mutharika wrote: “I am therefore wishing the Vice President all the best as he represents Malawi at this vital council at a time when hunger is looming in our country due to the dry spell and floods that affected 15 districts.”

The post courted several comments that showed good will for the two with the majority of the commentators pleading with the President not to allow others to divide them.

“Now I am proud to tell everybody that (I) am Malawian, with President Mutharika and Saulos Chilima have trust,” commented Fareed Bitton.

Chisomo Chanza wrote: “That’s better Mr. President. Chonde (please) don’t make any mistake of to leave your VP behind for enawa (some). You will give room to MCP.”

While most of the comments had a similar message of fostering unity between the two but others also delved into the importance of the appointment as John Alfaruk Wala wrote.

“Malawi needs (to) be proud that our son of the soil has been appointed to this august body. Our top enemy is hunger and to be part and parcel to such an international body makes Malawi in SADC the captain in matters of eliminating hunger and malnutrition. We need food on our tables for it is a basic need.”

President Mutharika’s public congratulation for his Vice President comes two weeks after Chief Ngongoliwa of Thyolo also publicly advised the President against parting ways with his deputy.

“Once that happens your development agenda will retrogress because the Vice President will be the opposite side and you too the other direction,” warned the Chief.

Malawi has had bad relations of President and their Vice starting Dr. Bakili Muluzi who saw his vice Justin Malawezi resigning in 2004.

In his first term the late Bingu wa Mutharika had the worst ever relationship with Vice President Dr. Cassim Chilumpha and the same bad omen resurfaced in his second term when the ruling DPP fired vice President Joyce Banda after the quarrelled.

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