Op-Ed: MCP, UTM alliance has finally collapsed

April 14, 2020 Harry Itimu 98 Comments

It was an alliance that came with political pomp, loud fanfare and ceremony. Even the BBC billed  it as “a grand alliance”. Now   main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and UTM Party, who signed an electoral alliance last month, are going to field its presidential candidates as the union has fatally collapsed.

‘Either Chilima leads or no alliance’:   MCP president Lazarus Chakwera and his UTM Party counterpart Saulos Chilima

But a political alliance is not just the coming together of parties. It is the political chemistry that happens inside. As UTM Party leader Saulos Chilima feared, “Mgwirizano ndumenewo. Koma mumgwirizanomo tizigwirizanamo?”

The collapse of the MCP, UTM alliance is now only waiting for an official announcement as both MCP presidential hopeful  Lazarus Chakwera and Chilima are going to fill nomination papers for the fresh presidential elections on their party banners.

The collection of the papers by the two leaders  is a culmination of moves that have demonstrated that this is an alliance that never was.

When MCP and UTM entered an electoral alliance last month, analysts described it as a stillbirth;  a marriage of inconvenience between partners that are ideologically different from each other and deeply do not like each other.

However,  the pomp and fanfare at the ceremony where they signed the alliance in Lilongwe, there were already serious indications that this alliance was never their script. As it became learnt, it was something forced upon them by the judges in the election case.

The first piece of evidence of this stillbirth was this: Up to 9am on the day of the signing ceremony, Chilima had still not made up his mind whether to go to the ceremony or not. He only turned up to the function for fear of embarrassing Chakwera with a last-minute withdrawal. It was a presence for public politics only but not the spirit of an alliance.

Since then the two leaders and their followers have not worked together at any level.

The two leaders have not conducted any political activities together.

And where each one of them has engagements, there is no reference whatsoever of the other partner.

It is even worse for the collection of the other  briefcase parties that are said to be part of the alliance. They are outcasts, clapping hands from the fringes of all this.

The MCP/UTM alliance has collapsed for a number of reasons.

The alliance is rocked by egoism of Chakwera and Chilima as each of them want to lead the alliance.

This stance is even shared by their parties. Chilima’s followers have dug their heels in on this. They say, in public and bluntly, that Chilima has been vice president all along. He cannot therefore be running mate again to Chakwera.

“It’s either Chilima leads the alliance or there is no alliance,” they have said.

On the other hand, Chakwera’s followers argue that Chilima’s UTM, with only 4 MPs [ now they have added one fron independent benches to be five]  and around one year old, is a party of no consequence to provide a leader of the alliance.

In addition, Chakwera himself does not even imagine playing second fiddle to  Chilima. The battle lines are clearly drawn.

Then, there is also the question of serious mutual distrust between them. MCP are wary that Chilima can betray them as he did with DPP which gave him the vice presidency.

His ambition for the presidency make  them fear he could plot to elimante  Chakwera as he has been doing fighting President Peter Mutharika.

On the other hand, UTM fears that should the alliance win the election, MCP will exact its brutal nature on UTM and decimate the political party.

This is an alliance where each of the partners is suspicious that the other party wants to ride on their back to victory and then jettison them once the desired end is achieved.

In any case, this alliance was never going to hold because it was externally driven by the judges in the election case.

The five judges are known to be anti-DPP and part of the conspiracy to topple the government.

Their judgment has come into question worldover as more of a political statement than an act of law and justice.

Their operating principle has been judicial activism, a term coined by one of the judges Redson Kapindu  – where judicial activism means the judiciary being part of the conspiracy to remove democratically-elected government.

In the execution of their plan, they delivered a highly opinionated judgment that avoided the laws and contents of the petition.

It was a judgment that sought to grant the opposition the instruments to wrestle power from DPP.

They did so by, among other things, issuing a raft of directives to Parliament, an independent arm of government, to enact laws that would give the opposition leverage.

The bills have failed. The alliance has collapsed. The script was botched. The judges have been exposed.

Obsessed by their so-called judicial activism, the judges failed to understand that politics operates differently.

  • All views expressed are those of the author and should not be taken as reflecting the views of the Nyasa  Times.

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98 replies on “Op-Ed: MCP, UTM alliance has finally collapsed”

  2. This is a very well written opinion piece. Congratulations to Nyasa Times for welcoming it. I have 2 points to make. One, the alliance is clearly a good to secure a W if the 2 parties are serious about it. Together they have the number under first-past-post or under 50%+1. Two, DPP must be careful not to take this opinion for granted as UTM/MCP can pretend to be on their way to divorce in order to make DPP sleep. UTM and MCP are certainly talking at the highest levels and need not broadcast it. This said, it is hard to see how they can govern together in a smooth fashion unless the leader of the coalition “kill” his partner

  3. DPP, will be out by the end of the year. Ma cadet ozindikila akusintha thabwa. Inunso muzikonzeka. Enanu tikuziwa kuti you are blind followers, we don’t blame you.

  4. Those two people are grown up and they made that alliance after hearing the cry of Malawians. Writing such an article to dimish the alliance won’t work at all. What has been written here is what we call chimunda uko koma chimanga chimodzi.

    If this is for decampaign bi guess you have decampaigned for DPP because that exactly the party that most Malawians does not want to hear about. The party was like Ronaldo but the players in the field are like some from Dwangwa United. Meaning to say Peter has been soreounded with many crooks who are like wevil in the main grain.

    1. Nyssa times why do you allow stupid stories n lies? I thought your here to publish facts n not lies

    1. Wa DPP iwe usatipusitse. Magazi ama Albino akuwamwaza ndi ndani? None of the people who were in MCP during the Kamuzu regimne are there. In fact they are in DPP. We are talking of Dausi (amandinyasa kwambiri zedi) then Ntaba and Bakili Muluzi. Anthu anawona pano sikuti utha kuwapusitsa ndimagazi comment yakoyo.

  6. WE ACTUALLY KNEW THIS GONNA HAPPEN,MAKING AN ALLIANCE OUT OF ANGER AND WITHOUT STRONG BASE AND ALSO WITH DIFFERENT IDEALOGY …..THEIR MAIN AIM WAS TO BREAK THE DPP BUT THEY WERE NEVER MEANT TO WORK TOGETHER THAT’S THE OUTCOME…….ANYWAY WE FOLLOWING NEXT

  7. If this alliance is real, why is it that we see the two leaders operating independently of each other? Up to now, why not announce the one who will lead the alliance? Am saying this because in any way, the choice of any of the two will shake some form of support from both parties. it was better to announce now and keep convincing those who might have doubts about the chosen leader so that they embrace him? MCP/UTM has attracted this speculation to itself because what is happening now is an implied intepretation because the leadership is silent. Again, if this was a strategy, it should have been carefully thought to avoid speculation.
    With social media handy, lies move like hurricane fire and by the time the two will try to extinguish the fire, a lot of damage will have taken place. this is a game of numbers and Malawians need not be taken for granted.

    1. These are fears from the heart that are being revealed unknowingly. Running mate amadziwika kunomonation. Phuma bwanji? Kodi DPP/UDF alliance ananena kuti running mate ndindani? Mukuopa chani n if Ur intelligent can’t you know wekha kuti leader akhala ndani? Kuganiza mopusa uku

  8. Never did God make any mistake. You can use all ways be it Judges, Millionaires Simbi, Lawyers and riots to defeat someone, but God has a last word which can never be defeated

    2. Hahahaha hihihihi aDpp mwamudziwa lero Mulungu..kkkkkkkk kkkkkkkk koma LC n SKC anakodza Chauta

  9. Muchila you think you can keep going with these lies? Don’t you think that the masses are the better judges?

    2. Unfortunately people don’t see the uselessness you are seeing. Will it not be too late for you to do anything by the time you realize the reality about this alliance

  12. I suspect this is the work of DPP to ensure continued plunder of our little resources. The unfortunate thing is that us the youth whose future is being raped are happy celebrating. If this story was not coined by those Mutharika has paid to write fake news then I am saddened by the move taken by both Chilima and Chakwera. People who wishes Malawi well will never forgive Chilima for this and he should forget being ever a president of Malawi. UTM has very few supporters but Chilima, as an individual, has and if I was him I would have made sure that I put DPP to sleep now. If DPP wins then come 2025 it will be Nankhumwa and Atupere and Chilima will no longer own the youthful appeal he is enjoying at the moment. The loss of this appeal will send him to political oblivion. My finger are crossed and hopefully Chilima is clever enough to know that he still have relevance in politics if he plays his cards right. You cant all be presidents panopa,,,,,Ndinyenga ndinyenga anachezera gule wa ana,,,

    2. Sadly the alliance is collapsed, these wise words should have been made available to him before May 2019. Anyway, you may still try to reach him, its never too late, he may buy your wisdom and consider just rejoining his old party where he belongs

      1. kkkk alliance is still there and the agreement is that Chakwera is leading the alliance. Ndinu ana inu a DPP MCP/UTM boma. koteroko simudziwa kuti ndi njomba zimenezi kuti mupule makape inu. kkkkkk mwafoyiratu. Chilima anavomera kale kukhala vice president wa chakwera in fact anali atawauza kale akuluakulu ake za zimenezi mmene amapita zokakambirana

  14. I read all the comments but no one is making sense!too much fools in Malawi.
    Kwachuluka anthu adyela ku UTM!
    Chilima….. power hungry
    Kaliati…..ridiculous fool power hungry
    Lucias banda……power hungry
    Manganya…….he wna be veep ???
    Calista……… power hungry
    Zimbili Muluzi……? And many more.
    The whole party is of power hungry ….do you really think if UTM wins ..malawi will change?… There is alot of educated fools in Malawi…who doesn’t use brain .
    UTM is part of DPP and UDF nothing will change…… MCP is less Devil than all other Partys…..I told the same things to the people of Zimbabwe….when Mugabe removed from power was replaced with vice president and people was jumping ..celebrating..
    .that things will change and i told them no way…..look at zimbabwe today ..very bad than b4.
    Vote for MCP and expect change!!! That does not mean i support MCP…. am not even in the country….but if you can not vote for MCP then voting UTM is not option DPP it is…..

    1. If you knew what Mcp is you wouldn’t be talking. If you knew the suffering it caused, how many people now have different names because of Mcp’ and young pioneers, how many people died, how many raped, how many locked up in jail for years without trial. Some more than 20 years without a single day in court. The multitudes that we’re fed to crocodiles or had their skulls smashed in with harmers.

      You only know about the likes of Orton chirwa,masauko chipembere and the like, but ine the southern region almost every family knows and people have grown hearing stories of loved ones who fell at the hands of Mcp. The evil that is Mcp. Why do u think they recruited a former fake pastor to be the torch bearer??

      1. The remnants of that MCP are now in DPP. Talk of Dausi and Ntaba. Chakwera and Mia were never part of that MCP and so stop peddling nonsense here.

        1. mbiri ya mcp ndiyomwe inada kaya anthu ake alipo kaya anafa koma mbiri ndiyoti mcp ndichipani chokupha chopanda myendere.maumboni ena tawaona since 22 may 2019

        2. You really convince yourself that that’s the case? You are really trying to tell us that Mcp changed? When recent actions say otherwise. still terrorising innocent Malawians and businesses,kuphwanya timawokala ta wanthu, Kutibula wanthu, a President who insights violence (supposed to be a man of God) ,celebrates when a police man dies while doing his duty. You need to seat and reflect,try zen or yoga mate.

          Much like the DNA of the Nazi Gestapo is alive in Neo Nazis and other white supremacist, so is the evil vain of young Pioneers alive today. Always baying for blood.

        3. Then it is Dausi and Ntaba that changed because MCP could not change. Deep rooted dictatorial ideology.

        4. kkkkk, it is because they realized their wrongs and decide to change and belong to something better and bury khanza away with nothing with the bloody past. They are a changed lot. But those who are clinginging to the old ways of one party tricks are still at the helm of the old party of darkness.

      2. MCP of today does not have the old members of that era but you keep on criticizing the new members by saying MCP ndichipani chankhaza. Can you answer on Dausi, Ntaba and Brown Mpinganjira in DPP.

        1. But their blood lives on, their ideas passed on. You can clearly see. Ngati N’gona zinatha mu shire? Mcp will never change, you can put make up on a pig, it still remains a Pig, beautiful but still a Pig.The 2 headed snake, the dodgy former pastor at its head. Ready kukhetsa mwadzi in his own words not mine or yours.

          Even Saulos Doesn’t trust Mcp.

    4. Mamwa chani kodi akulu? MCP is for change? What change? We leave democratic parties to our own peril!

  17. Cadets crying loudly but Wether u like it or not the alliance is on . Keep on panicking and careful otherwise u will develop BP.

    They collect the nomination papers so that Cadets and their operative should be blindfolded . Your myopic won’t lead u to the right direction .

    Keep being in dark while MCP/UTM are amassing the Votes day and night.

  19. From the onset of the talks and the final political gathering, I knew that it wont work. I had very good reasons and the same reasons are still valid to this very day. The fact is that, MCP cant accept their leader to be the running mate to UTM taking into account the number of MPs each has in Parliament. Secondly, UTM followers cannot allow MCP to lead the alliance because UTM President is already the VP of the country. In addition, both of these two leaders are big headed, they dont want to be a running mate. What I have recently learnt is that the concourt messed up by indirectly trying to bring down APM and laying a foundation for the so called ” Alliance” which has flopped. Trust, Bob Marley sung, ” Whosoever diggeth a pit, shall fall in it”. This is exactly what is going to happen and its happening, the truth shall prevail. I know, the MCP and UTM followers are not happy on what is being written about the collapse, to them, its false and they are still in denial. “No matter how long it will take, the sun shall still come out”Ghanian proverb.Tikudikira, choona chadziwika.

  20. First of all, this is just an opinion article and so the author has a right to say whatever he thinks. The article is not a news report based on something that is actually happening. And so, Mr Itimu you have the right to speculate on the alliance. However, reading between the lines of your article, you have demonstrated that you lack objectivity as the language to are using is clearly pro-DPP and anti-opposition. You can do better than this Sir.

    1. I like your mild temper. You sound upset yet voicing out your concern with respect. I admire that. You recognize that anyone is entitled to their opinion yet you wouldn’t want the opinion to sound pro DPP and that’s where I would correct you. If it’s an opinion, it can either sound anti DPP or pro DPP or in rare cases neutral. Let’s stick to the earlier point that it’s an opinion and respect it as such. Is that fair to your Sir?

    3. We also want to read your opinion of the alliance, so that we can also critic it. Kulibe pakana lero leader was alliance, ma nomination form akutha ku comesa, thamangani mukawatengere.

  21. DPP cadet, grow up please. No wonder you are busy sending thugs to disturb registration excercise and paying little girls and boys to try and increase DPP votes. The alliance is a guaranteed victory. DPP is finished. Find some other crap to write about.

  22. I thought the article was worth reading. I stopped at a sentence where the author allege the judges forced them into alliance. Kkkkkkkk

  23. Itumu, you are as foolish as Muntharika himself. Chakwera and Chilima are smart they are playing the ball in your half, it’s just a matter of time before they make you score your own goal. Dpp has humiliated Chilima for far too long at the same time he can’t win on his own therefore he’s playing a sweet revenge and you dpp fools are falling for it.

  27. Finally APM can have a breather. He will surely utilise on this and declare that South will rule Malawi forever and ever until Jesus return. Indeed Greedy is good.

  33. A clear cadet-written article aimed at sowing divisions within the UTMCP alliance. Itimu is a DPP cadet but unfortunately he is unable to hide himself. The alliance is really giving DPP a headache. Long live UTMCP!

  34. Well even if it can be true one thing for sure DPP is going and it will never be there in Malawi politics ever.

    Mark my word cadet and trust me.

  35. Kodi A Itimu Ake ati, ine Ana A Itimu amene ndimawaziwa ine amakhala anzeru, osati izi mwalemba apazi. Strive for Patriotism Abambo, its a new trend, let us bail out Malawi together.

  36. Good punishment to the two parties (MCP and UTM) who have destroyed this country by conniving with the corrupt judges to give flawed rulings.

  38. The bills have failed..alliance has collapsed…the script had botched…the judges have been exposed..i like this…alliance influenced by Court Judgement…Concourt thought it will achieve judicial activism…..tili ku mastand kuona zimenezo

  39. Whatever the case, my support will remain for the opposition. Many candidates take nomination papers and withdraw last minute and request their supporters to go for the leader of the alliance. Wait for the press conference.

  40. A Itimu lembani nkhani ngati professional. Osaonetsa mbali komanso ubulutu omwe muli nawo. Ine ndilibe mbali and I don’t even vote koma zomwe mwalemba apazi mmmmmm kupanga even attack ma judge. Mwadya zambiri Inu eti

  44. I think people are not sleeping. Just accept that your time to manage government affairs is over. Please don’t create stories .

  45. At first I followed this article with interest and I nearly believed its contents until the last part where the author tries in vein to tie the judiciary into his (and the DPP’s) conspiracy theory that the five judges of the Constitutional Court are part of a scheme to overthrow the DPP government. Cadet ameyesa wabisala koma apa pokha nsana waonekera poyera.
    In the first place there is nothing wrong in both Chilima and Chakwera collecting nomination papers because the alliance has not yet agreed who will be its torch bearer. Any of the two candidates can do that. We observed in the last election that a lot of candidates collected nomination papers but in the end others discarded their nomination papers and formed alliances. Dr Joyce Banda even went further to submit nomination papers to the electoral commission but in the end withdrew her nomination in support of the MCP. So what is strange today for Chakwera and Chilima to collect papers before an alliance presidential candidate has been announced? Koma ma Cadet ali pa chi ntchito.

    To Chakwera and Chilima together with your MCP and UTM supporters know that mwayigwira DPP pa nkholingo. Ikusowa kopumila. Musawasiye mpaka nyenkhwe amanena ija ayiwone okha.

  47. IS this article meant to bring division between utm and Mcp. all a long as much as i know Chilima is a smart person and thinks heavy i always had a feeling that he can never play second fiddle. why would he go for the second in command twice as if pension will double up as well? personaly if given a chance i would tell chilima to go it a lone with an eye on the the 2025 elections. or should there be rerun again then is when the alliance would make sense. as the status core was is that the marriage was forced on the two not on gentlemans point of view. rest my case

  50. kkkkkkkkkkkk !!! The so called alliance was nothing but MCP/UTM Political Masterbation.

  51. eishhhhh why comrades, u have now practically given DPP another 5 term which Malawians do not want, u must know this…..ur actions will have a big negative impact on Malawi, because of ur unfortunate action u have just given dpp the upper hand and Malawians are scheduled to suffer even more……with the already rigging strategies dpp are doing now neither of u stand a chance to win if u go solo, cry my beloved Malawi, people’s egos is a big problem in Malawi indeed.

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