Mutharika strips Malawi VP Chilima ministerial role: Functions of Dodma moved to OPC
President Peter Mutharika has stripped Vice President Saulos Chilima of the role of Minister of Disaster Management Affairs following a recent fallout between the two and now all the tasks the latter had been empowered to oversee are removed.
Chief Secretary to the Government Lloyd Muhara said in a statement made available to Nyasa Times that President Mutharika “in exerices of powers conferred upon him by the Constitution has directed that with immediate effect, the functions of the Department of Disaster Management Affars and National Public Events be under the Office of the President and Cabinet.”
Ironically the decision was announced on July 6 the day Malawi was celebrating 54 years of political independence from the British.
It was also just a day after Chilima put his hat in the ring to challenge Mutharika in next year’s presidential race.
The President has suffered a more reputation damage recently after the media reported on leaked Anti Corruptio Bureau (ACB) investigations report which suggested that he benefitted from a suppLy food rations to the police service with a K145 million – enough money to fund a ministry for a year or build 15 health centres or enough to settle arrears for teachers on the brink of a national strike.
But reacting to the firing of his Vice President as Minister of DoDMA, Malawians took to social media to condemn this.
“This is not punishing Chilima but Malawians. DoDMA had been revamped under Chilima and now we are back to square one,” wrote Jones Kalichero on Facebook.
“When shall we grow up as a country? He has a right to vy for the presidency without victimisation,” tweeted one.
However many said this was predictable, saying victimising Vice Presidents and pomposity are the DNA of the governing Democrtaic Progressive Party (DPP).
The party did the same to its previous Vice President Joyce Banda and Dr. Cassim Chilumpha. And as many have observed it is doubtful that DoDMA, in Office of President now, will remain revamped and vibrant as has has been under Chilima if what happened to public reforms is anything to go by.
In 2017 the party stripped Chilima of his role as Chairman of Reforms on the basis that he was becoming more popular as a performer.
However, reacting to his recent dismissal as DoDMA Minister – Chilima was more respectful in his response through his media aide Pilirani Phiri.
“It is the prerogative of His Excellency the Pesident to assign and reassign ministries and departments. The Vice President is thankful for the opportunity to have served Malawians in that capacity as Minister of Disaster Management Affairs”.
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Dziko ili limafunika wodekha. Chilima could have been a president akadafatsa mu Dpp umu. Amene akuti mudalayu ndi yomwe awonetsa chilima ku maso kwa anthu lero nkumati nsiokalamba munali kuti nthawi yomwe akatsankha Chilima Peter, anthu akhungu inu. We have to appreciate Peter anasankha Atupere kukhala nduna, ndikuzatsankhanso Chilima kukhala Vice President. Lero anamidzidwa nkumati Peter ndi olakwa. Bozatu ili. Bambo ako ndi Bambo ako, musamupangitse kuti chilima atukwane Peter. Popanda Peter bwenzi zina la Chilima mukulinunkha pano ? Achinyamata sadawonetsere utsogoleri wawo, atupere pamodzi ndi Chilima. What I can see ndi zoti onse awiri ali ndi Njala ya udindo… Read more »
The issue is that people like politics of sympathy and Chilima is no exception. He should know that we still relate him with DPP. For many years he remained silent watching evils, idlosing mutharika as evil prevailed over good. He is hiding behind a mask but this guys has done a lot of bad things with APM. Yes we need change but certainly that will not come from you! After all what change do we expect from Kaliyati, Masangwi and Ngumuya? What change do we expect from Mr Speaker Sir? It would have been change if the leading was entirely… Read more »
Ndiwolotse ndi kudye.When he was assisting them to rig elections he knew what he was doing. This is what you get for associating with the Devil.Jamming phones ,hacking into Mec System, burning polling centres.Kuchingale trying to infiltrate MEC in the. Mchinji bye elections…. all point to someone who can do anything to get power.
Why is this called stripping of? this man has resigned from the party which means the party has now got to find a replacement. Isn’t that all that’s happening? WHY DO WE LIKE TO EXAGGERATE THINGS? NOW WE ARE GOING TO SPEND HOURS DEBATING HOW RIGHT OR WRING APM WAS AND YET WE NEED TO BE USING THAT DISCUSSING HOW TO IMPROVE OUR COUNTRY? SAULOS HAS LEFT AND LEAVE HIM A LONE
The official on VP needs to be removed on next general election..as presidents fight VP always to the disadvantage of the country
I sometimes wonder why we Malawians are so shallow minded. It appears people regard Chilima as a saint. Look, the guy rigged the votes for Mutharika under the arrangement that he would take over in 2019. Mutharika wamgwiritsa pfuwa la moto and he reigns. This Chilima has no interest of Malawians at heart. If he did he would not have rigged the votes for these mbava currently in government. Now he acts as if he has clean hands, get lost!
The movement team has the Internally Displaced Politicians leading the pack is Saulosi K Chilima no one sees any coherent approach to matters that need hard hitting punch so as to carry the nation with you. What groundwork have the IDPs laid out for all to read in a loud voice? There isn’t any defining hanger to their quest to the 2019 presidency,vagaries tend to dominate the market Zodiak has been able to surface the simmering heat towards Chilima’s removal from the cabinet. Now done how the IDPs sharpen their strategic knives? After all the die is cast one can… Read more »
But the VP has said government is corrupt and Nepostic. Do all of you guys see Saulos attending a cabinet meeting when the President calls for one. Has he even gone to any function where the president is ever since his presser on June 6? So why blame APM when Saulosi is the one who has isolated himself. Let’s just wait for another cardiac arrest since he is still VP.
Chilima should learn to smile. Malawians were tired of the Kamuzu serious face and opted for Mr Jokes, who has ruled till now under the UDF-DPP names.
That’s true! Serious people like this man are hard to gain trust! You just know they are mafia like leaders who cannot even trust those around them. Chilima is not himself; he cannot express himself right! He does not laugh most often! He was told seriousness rules!!! He was misled.
Mutharika is right to kick Chilima out of cabinet. He has constitutional powers to do so.