MCP chief whip says Chakwera is presidential candidate: Chilima given ‘take it or leave it’ runningmate of ‘Tonse Alliance’
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) chief whip in parliament Sam Kawale has revealed that the party president Lazarus Chakwera will be presidential candidate of the ‘Tonse’ alliance of MCP and UTM with other parties while UTM Party president Saulos Chilima has been given the runningmate for the fresh presidential elections.
Kawale, who is also MCP legislator for Dowa North East Constituency, in a Facebook post after registering for the 2020 fresh presidential elections hinted that Chakwera will be the torchbearer, giving credit to a Nyasa Times earlier story that Chilima had been offered a “take it or leave it” deal.
“Ready to vote for Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, the orchBearer of the grand alliance. Kwachaa,” wrote Kawale.
The UTM Party leader, who is the country’s vice-president, is expected to take a stand before presentation of the nomination papers to Malawi Electoral Commisison (MEC) next week.
Nyasa Times understands that the alliance deal also gives UTM to control 50 percent Cabinet and other public appointments.
As vice-president, Chilima will be tasked to run day-to-day government activities with more powers to be enshrined in the Constitution through an amendment than just being delegated.
The deal also says MCP will get 30 percent Cabinet positions and other coalition partners will get 20 percent.
Chilima and Chakwera—the duo that secured the landmark judgement by the five-judge panel of the High Court of Malawi sitting as the Constitutional Court that nullified the May 21 2019 presidential election on February 3 2020—entered into an alliance last month and it was expected that the torchbearer of the alliance will either be Chakwera or UTM leader Chilima.
The alliance which includes other parties such as People’s Party and Alliance for Democracy is being christened as Tonse Alliance.
On Wednesday, Chakwera held a news conference in Lilongwe where a banner with the name Tonse Alliance was displayed.
In the run-up to the annulled presidential election, Chakwera partnered former president Joyce Banda and her People’s Party (PP) as well as the country’s former vice-president Khumbo Kachali and his Freedom Party. The partnership between MCP and the two is still intact.
MCP has said it will take the presidency because of its numerical strength in Parliament (55 legislators against UTM’s measly four) to claim that it is bigger than UTM and a Head of State should not have a hang parliament.
UTM spokesman Joseph Chidanti Malunga said “information” will be released when they finish their talks.
Both MCP and UTM Party developed their manifestos which they touted as geared towards bailing Malawians out of abject poverty, drive away deep-rooted corruption and create job opportunities for the youths, among other issues.
The UTM manifesto clearly indicates how it will deal with corrupt leadership, saying that the party shall empower the National Construction Industry Council (NCIC) in the enforcement of the Construction Industry Act and the code of ethics.
The manifesto further hints that the party supports civil society initiatives such as those under the Construction Sector Transparency Initiative (CoST) in working with State enforcement agencies such as the Anti–Corruption Bureau (ACB), the Auditor General and the Office of the Director of Public Procurement (ODPP) to ensure accountability and transparency in awarding contracts.
UTM also promises that the sitting president shall be stripped of immunity so that he or she should be prosecuted whenever found to be involved in corrupt practices while still serving as the State president.
On agriculture, UTM promises a universal fertiliser subsidy with a 50 kilogramme bag pegged at K4 500. The party also promises to introduce mega farms to ensure mass production of crops such as maize, cotton and rice as well as employment.
Further, Chilima passionately pledged to create one million jobs within the first 12 months in office.
In its manifesto which party officials described as a “diagnosis of the problems Malawians are facing and a prescription to the economic and human development ailments Malawians are going through”, MCP focuses on challenges facing the agricultural sector.
Specifically on agriculture, MCP promises farmers a universal subsidy programme which according to officials will see all Malawians regardless of their status having access to cheaper prices of farm inputs.
Both MCP and UTM, through their manifestos, fault the design and implementation of the targeted Farm Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp) which for the past 15 years has been providing subsidised inputs to ultra-poor Malawians.
The two parties speak a similar language, particularly on agriculture and anti-corruption fight drive.
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Chilima Challenges 1. He left DPP to be president. It doesn’t make sense to go back to same position he rejected in DPP. 2. Letting Chakwera, who has never been a cabinet minister, let alone, vp, to be torchearer would be a big let down for SKC. He would rather stand alone rather than help Chakwera to the presidency. 3. If Chakwera represents the alliance and win, there is no guarantee that he will implement unconstitutional agreements they make. If the agreements are made that require parliament to approve, there is no guarantee that parliament will pass such agreements. Chilima… Read more »
DPP cadets are spending sleepless nights with MCP/UTM Alliance. They know that soon their stealing habit from government coffers is over.
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When stories like this one appear in the media, the authorities must come out quickly to clarify or refute. Silence would imply that there is truth in what has been authored.
To UTMCP negotiators; getting into an alliance was a small step in the right direction to free our beloved nation. You have been tasked to make the most important decision for generations to come. Now you have to return the favour by choosing progressiveness over conservatism. As a nation, we seem to be too proud of being poor. Do not be afraid to think outside the box let alone steeping off it even if it feels unnatural and uncomfortable due to your party affiliations. Think about what you can do for Malawi and not what Malawi can do for you… Read more »
Nanunso a Chilima NDI a Chakwera angapange chani? Kuyankhula nkhani anayamba ayendetsapo Boma. Kuzinyenga basi. Palibe umboni ogwirika Kuti angasinthe dziko. Anthu angokhala ndichimbekezo but it’s not a guarantee Kuti atatenga Boma Atha kuyendetsa bwino. Palibe umboni woti sangabe ndalama mboma.
Am proud of this grand alliance, both parties are talking the same thing.go!go!go osamusiya petulo yo tiye naye akutha pang’ono pang’ono ndaonera m’nyamata wake oyitanira dpp Kaphale wayamba kunyanyala za ku court.nayenso pitala akuzindindikira kuti
dziko simasewera after kulephera milandu yonse yachitika m’mbuyomu.
Gonzo Journalism. Paid to write fiction
Zavuta kunalaini
Basi Che Chilima matama onse aja mwamasulidwa ndi ka MP ngati kameneka .Muwona kuti mutani ,koma izi zikuwoneseratu kuti chanu palibe ambwiye …..Mukalolanso u runningmate ndiye bola ku Dpp komwekuja .Nyere ndi U president ndiizi lero mukukalowa nazo mkamwa mwa Ng,ona
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Leadership qualities zelo zelo.By far no match to Peter.Unless if you want to throw the country into a pit latrine.