Times change, says Chilima on BBC: HardTalk quizzes SKC why criticising Malawi govt of which he is second-in command
Vice-President Saulos Chilima on Friday appeared on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) HARDtalk programme where he was interviewed by anchor, Zeinab Badawi in which among other things he stated that he wants to contest for the 2019 presidential election to “save the country from destruction and corruption.”
The vice president broke ranks with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in June when he quit the party citing unchecked corruption and nepotism. He is leading the newly formed United Transformation Movement (UTM).
Times change
The BBC’s journalist pressed Chilima to explain why he is running against incumbent Peter Mutharika, the very man he stood with in 2014 on joint presidential ticket as his running mate.
“Times change,” said Chilima a former business executive turned politician.
“First of all it’s a constitutional right in Malawi for any person above 35 years who has got the right qualifications [to contest the presidency],” said Chilima.
Badawi in her no holds barred probing style, quizzed: “ I am not saying you’re not fit. Why have you turned against Peter Mutharika?”
Responding, Chilima said: “I would like to exercise my constitutional rights and contest the office of the president.”
Chilima gave the BBC an interview in London where he is on a private visit.
SKC refuses to resign
Chilima was asked to comment on calls by some people that he should resign as vice president a call which was first sounded by DPP administration which rebuked him for, among other things, criticising a government he is part of and for getting involved in a different political grouping.
The Vice-President, promoted as SKC, initials for his full name Saulos Klaus Chilima, said the office is protected by the Constitution.
“The vice president’s office is a delegated office constitutionally. So as I sit here and when I get back home I still go to the office and report for duties. I am still in that office,” he said.
Chilima said he responds to enquiries from different organisations.
“The office has not been vacated. I am available [for] meetings and guidance,” SKC said.
“I have a contract which runs up to May 2019 [when the elections are due].”
He was asked if he meets President Mutharika after dumping the ruling party, but he said they have not met since June. Asked if Mutharika has asked him to resign, Chilima also said the President has not made the call.
Chilima also said he is not using government money to run UTM activities.
“It is not tax payers’ money,” he stressed.
In 2005, former president and founder of DPP Bingu wa Mutharika also voluntarily dumped the United Democratic Front (UDF) which sponsored his presidential ticket in the 2004 General Elections and formed DPP. However, he did not resign as Head of State. His vice-president then, Cassim Chilumpha, remained UDF.
Immediate past president Joyce Banda also formed People’s Party (PP) in 2011 after being expelled from DPP, but continued to serve as vice-president.
Stop the rot
BBC asked Chilima to comment on his anti-corruption stance.
“Speaking against corruption , speaking against nepotism is speaking against the evils. I will disagree any assertion that I am speaking against government. It is not government policy to promote corruption,” said SKC.
“Over the four years I have spoken against corruption at different times. I am the champion of the construction sector initiative back home. I have rebuked poor workmanship. I have spoken against poor ethics when I presented a public lecture on moral decadence at the University of Malawi. These, I was speaking when I was active in the government affairs,” he said.
Chilima said his efforts to advise government on corruption had fallen on deaf ears.
Grilled by Badawi that if corruption in Malawi is really as bad as Chilima describes, why the Vice-President didn’t use his influence to stop it.
“You see, first is, you engage and say there is a problem. Stopping it, means that, when you make recommendations it is taken on board. I am not a final decision maker, I can only make a recommendation,” he said.
He added: “Corruption story in Malawi is an interesting one. Nobody disagrees that there is corruption. What the issue is, are we really seriously fighting corruption. The fight is not at the level that we should be.”
Chilima challenged responsible authorities to investigate and prosecute corruption unselectively.
“ There are cases of corruption that are not being pursued because people are being shielded,” he said.
During the interview Chilima further maintained he would create one million jobs in his first year of office.
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Mkuluyutu adzatipha ndiye as I map any an exercising his rights on money he is not working for? Instead of leaving that money to be used for other important things like the buying of drugs? Malawi yake iit Iadzalamule, ya diaspora? AAPAakungoonesera kuti mkuluyu ndi wamakani, akufuna adzilimbina ndi amnzake and yet APM is just very cool, the true leader osati zinazi zomangofuna thamo. kodi nanga minda inayo mukaiba kuti? Sizodzalanda azungutu apa, icho chidzakhala chibwana cha mchombo lends!!!
Hard talk opportunity doesn’t mean he is a performer. All I can see in this guy are lies and extravagant. How could he create 1 mita jobs from district mega farms and their most touted factories just in 6 months? Are these farms going to rely on rain or irrigation? If its from rain, which rain. The same rain which has been unreliable? If its from irrigation where exactly is he going to get the irrigation water for the other districts that are not along the perennial water sources? In not resigning from the work he is not doing is cashgate in another form. If he really has the heart for mMalawiansthe best honourable thing he can do is to RESIGN mwamva a United Thieves and Madness nu? There is no point to keep on quarreling here. Just be smart!!!
We all know it is not easy to be interviewed on a world stage, and we want to be fare. Trust me, I wanted to be fair to SKS.
And to the extent that most Anglophone African aspiring political leaders dream of appearing on HardTalk, and really take the opportunity to demonstrate the grit they are made of, by all accounts, Chilima flopped BIG. He had his chance, and he has blown it.
To elucidate regarding three pithy issues:
Asked about why he’s abandoning the APM government, and why he’s seeking the job, he repeats that he’s exercising his rights. That’s it? Really?
Asked how he would create a million jobs in a year, his answer is something along the line that, there are more than a million unemployed youths in Malawi, and that was an (or the – my words) opportunity. That’s it?
Asked why he would consult with the discredited Cashgater-in-Chief, Joisi Banda: the answer is absolutely nonsensical. And stupid.
There is NO recovery for Chilima. No mercy for him. And NO hope.
Ms Badawi has exposed Chilima finally for what he really is: a hopeless young man who never grew in his job as VP. He should have been pulling numbers or stats, left and right, in response to Ms Badawi’s questions. If only to show some seriousness, and substance. But, instead, the answers were shallow and pathetic.
Mukuti ndi Chirunga economist? Ndipo ali ndi PhD?
If these are the caliber of people it takes to lead a major telecom company in our country, then we may as well depend on the generation of the Goodall Gondwes and Peter Mutharikas for the next generation.
CONGRATS CHILIMA!!!!!!!!!!!!! On behalf of many Malawians in diaspora,I say KUDOS to our next President S.Chilima in his first encounter with foreign journalists.Indeed,you have given us every hope in your endeavours to become the next President of our dear Malawi.Apart from the Chipemberes and his fellow Ministers,Chilima is giving us un-diluted hope and courage comes 2019 and beyond.Malawians,the Presidents we have had since indipendence,are all brainless,corrupt,tribalists and incapable.When Chilima was with Peter Muthalika,was not that active in the affairs of the government in the sense that,Peter did not recognise him as his Vice-Presidend hence, he had nothing to do.We Malawians in diaspora,are solidly behind your leadership which will make our nation great and none-tribalistic.Peter is in the government to just amass wealth together with his dupes,he has no symphathy with our poor people,he has completely failed to run our country.Patients in the hospitals,are dying every-day for lack of medicines,unemployment is 90% making our youngmen and women leave their country to go to South Africa and other countries to look for jobs.SHAME!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr VIP to hell with your firthy lies. I won’t believe you from your antics. Why lying to us all that DPP hands are so dirty with corruption and yet you’re half of it? What about those murderers and cashgaters who are surrounding, the guys who failed to develop Malawi in the presence all mighty donors? APM was a man, a man defied all the odds to bring development without donors. Here was a man under whose leadership all civil servants were paid on time, not on 10th of the following month despite rough nature conditions. Here was a man who protected the soaring of maize price despite all fearful nature acts. Here was a man, a true democrat, who never fought his nemesis. Here was a man, a true performer. If Mr VIP you’re serious in your allegations about DPP, then do the oobvious, resign and Iwill surely trust you. Fail which you are a thief too.
This is a real thief. Why dinning with guys he labelled corrupt and thieves? If he is really smart he would have resigned from his post honourably. I wonder those who support him cherish him and yet the guy can’t part ways with the so called corrupt DPP? To be honest this guy is selfish and greedy and all what he has in his true colours is jealous. Keep on tricking your fellow crap Mr VIP for my vote forget it, iIbetter gave it back to APM because in clinging to them you’re telling me the DPP guys are true performers and you people are fighting them for your own selfish good,
Chilima flopped. He failed from the first question. How many things did he mention as first and foremost? Mfundo alibe nkuluyu.
mukanakhala kuti mudaphuzirapo ndale mukanazindikira kuti wandale sayankha funso direct kuopa kuthambitsidwa ndi mafunso, aks dausi adzakuphuzitsani kayankhidwe kamafunso a ndare, munthuyu amayankha mwa ndare osati nati interview yokayambira ntchito, khalani pheee palibe mukuziwapo inuyo
Everyone has their own side of the interview. SKC supporters think he did well while those opposed to his political views think he flopped. From my perspective, Chilima was lucky that Zainab did not follow up on most of her questions. The man Chilima demonstrated that he has no political reasons to mobilise people against the government he is serving. He showed that he just wants to exercise his right to stand a presidential candidate because he is past the allowable age limit according to the Malawi constitution. Just looking at those around Chilima one can tell they have massive proof to answer the same question. Conclusion – the man flopped! He is corrupt and power-hungry – getting paid for doing nothing in his office. he does not take responsibility when things go wrong…..
yes true SKC has no fault in APM govt but rather wish to exercise his constitutional right to contest. Point taken bwana SKC therefore stop castigating APM and his leadership only then will be able to woo support from the masses but short of that just know u are shooting urself on foot
I have listened t0 this interview which was very easy on Chilima.. No Hard Talk at all! Why no mention of APM corruption (how he first became president of Malawi and still enjoys criminal assets like Ndata Palace)? Chilima must be forced to do better than this if he is to be a convincing Reform candidate in 2019. Badawi must lift her game too as investigative journalist!
— and why no mention of Robert Chasowa’s murderers in the shiny new UTM party? Masangwi etc
He knows very well that Robert Chasowa’s death is a big can of big worms. Some of the people who coat his leadership at UTM and pull the strings for him to dance are implicated – Masangwi and Ngalande. If you were him and under similar circumstances would you dare say it?
Did APM inherit what you mention as Ndata Palace? I have never heard of this.
The his Chatham house presentation Chilima said one thing which I agree with “…(Malawians) have Limited Analytical Abilities”.When he joined DPP the Party was already known for Corruption, Nepotism, Violence and Murder. What Changed then and what has changed Now?Has his Integrity changed if he has any?
WELL DONE BUSHIRI !!
WELL DONE CHILIMA ! !
WELL DONE KAJOLOWEKA !!
WELL DONE BON KALINDO !!
WELL DONE SCOS
WELL DONE CALLISTA !!
WELL DONE AKWENI !!
WELL DONE CHAKWERA !!
WELL DONE MBAMBO !!
WELL DONE TRAPENCE !!
We saw this lady did not want Chilima to sell himself. She was like the Mlakho agent. But Chilima did his best. It is not easy. I dont think APM can manage that kind of interview. SKC has shown how briliant he is. He can make a better president for Malawi. The lady was BIASED. Probably she doesnt understand what is happening in malawi. She even tried to praise the APM government. Really?
Absolutely wrong my friend who shall u trust? When World bank and IMF says economy is not on the right truck in malawi u believe them but if they praise govt for fiscal discipline u say nothing what kind of ppo are u? It only shows u lack a spirit of patriotism hence u r biased and u r not a good citizen friend. Chang ur mindset know that that this is our land lets love it. No leaderrship will be 100% therefore let us make critism impartially and bring forth proper suggestions for the betterment of our country
well done NYAMATA wathu saulos vote yako ilipo myself my wife and my mum too
How many Chilima’s gave the interview? It seems people are commenting on different people depending on their party. ( the Chilima who nailed it and the one who flopped) whatever views you have, a good number of people have made up their mind and this interview will not change their minds. it is a waste of time to come here and think you can persuade people to support your candidate whoever he/she is.
Makinaaaa
He did well in the interview considering he is from a coperate world.He is not a liar like other politicians.Well done Chilima I will still vote for you
Corporate world, my ujeni!! Politics is career which tge the majority join after other careers at least in Malawi. APM still carries the title professor from his academic career. Is his inability to clearly articulate issues excused because he came from the academia? Face it, Saulos is empty and lacks charisma and he has been exposed by a non-interested person who the UTM mob cannot link to DPP.
Zeinab why?
Hmmm really don’t know what to say about this interview. It has completely exposed his political weaknesses more than before. He clearly had no clear-cut answer to any of the questions asked. And I was really surprised that he still has not yet consolidated any ideas on “HOW” to create the one million job in his first year of office. He just mentioned farming and sectors. But said nothing on how that farming will create the fucking 1,000,000 jobs in one year. When asked whether by creating the one million jobs he is referring to farming, he said no, hahahahaha. Wapala zedi. UTM is a bunch of another clueless politicians. They really don’t know what they are doing and they not ready.
NJALA
NSANJE
NTHENA
SKS akulankhulila omwe sangathe. inde ali mu boma momwemo, kodi zikufuna kunenedwa kuti aliyese azingovomela ,kuombera mmanja zopusa????????????????? nde mwationelelatu.
eyaa saulosi wanenabe anthu adziwe nao ndowe zili mmalawi munozi.
taonani miseu yathu, taonani pa area 30 kupita ku area 18 nseu odyekadyeka, mizu ya mitengo mmbali, pedestrian kusowa poyenda , pa salima turn off kupita ku 25, ngati kugombe kwa nyanya ma locals kugula somba -UMVE NYASI ZENIZENI, timiseu ngati njila yaku manda a nsenye-(ana ofera ncikuta)
mxiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
kodi a Mkaka mwaiwala dzana tinaonela pita mnthalika akukanika kukhala still pa mpando kumangofulukutafulukuta pa mpando, kuyamaba kukoza thayo akuiva kuthina ,cibwibwi pompo thooo!!!!!!!!!!!! ndipo anayankha pompo kuti bro wanga Bingu anacita nao kolapshoni????????????????????? mwaiwala????????????????? and he was with Zainabu amweyu. mwatani???? SKS sanakhale plesdent koma akuyesetsa kuthandizilapo maganizo ndi momwe zilili mm mw uno . anthu ngati inu ndi om,we mukufuna kumanga anthu mmaso kuti asamazindikile zoona zake. maka maka a mmidzimu.
musatisokoneze mwaaava ce nkaka!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yes skool munapita munaphuziladi zkomo. koma why you are BRAIN WASHING US?????????????????????????????????????????????????? KUTIKODZERA MMASO KUTI TISAONE KUTSOGOLO.
KAYA sks AZAKHALA OLO ASAZAKHALE KOMA AKUNENA ZOMWE ZIKUCITIKATU. . musatinyasepo apa ingakhalani cete mwina inuso muli mu ligi yopakula yomweyo
You nailed it !!!! moto kuti buuu!!!
It just depicted him as un honest person. His answers were not convincing at all and he was running from telling the truth when quizzed with evidence.
SKC should be praised and commended for criticizing the government that he is part of, he could have chosen to be quiet and be part of the rot but he decided to follow his conscious and move aware from the toxic government, he must be praised for his bravery
Frankly speaking, SCK handled the interview very well,with clarity and dignity. Watch the programme ,which will be aired next monday ,21st of october. He refused to be drawn into the narative of “bush politics” we practice in Malawi. He showed one can be dignified in opposition. Problem we have as Malawians is that we think you have to be obnoxious and use vile language to score political points. There is a better way of doing politics,countrymen.Just because we took off on a wrong note with Muluzi, the architect of our demise, doenst mean we can not make it right.SCK can make it right.
He sounds like a president of the crooked youths.
ITS NOT GOVERNMENT POLICY TO PROMOTE CORRUPTION!
I am not speaking against government!
SKC you have my vote!
The heat on hard talk was just too much for my brother SKC.
When Kamuzu was outside the country chilipo chomwe akaona chofunika kuchitika ku malawi at that time – extra ordinary
And that was to destroy the stupid federation and he did that and lay a clear development path for this country.
Livingstone he was seeing slave trade, he came helped to end slave trade.
But after colonial and one party era, presidents have gone kunja nad come back, ena pano claim kuti they spent 40 years kunjako –My question is akakhala kunjako amaona chiani spectacular choti can turn around Malawi economy, what do they see? sizomanga misewu y 1-5km, school blocks, community colleges, those are trivial projects best done by community members themselves and Ngos or city councils. Chifukwa these buildings parliament, BICC and Bingu stadium are all ornaments, they contribute very insignificant amounts if any to national development yet a lot of billions went into the construction of such projects. One project that would been significant during the multiparty era is the Nsanje port – but hii a kulu aja project ija analibe nayo patience, kusazimvetsa mwina. Instead he anakwangwanula ndalama zonse kumangira an extra ordinary big house and manda ake —all those combined (Nsanje port, casablanca, ndata farm,) drained us billions but as a country palibe tikupindula. Simply money to the drain. So what do these people see, a fertile ground to enrich themselves or they see Malawi?
MALAWIANS ARE SO DULL /STUPID
WHEN VOTING FOR THEIR LEADERS (WOKUBA YOMWEYO SYNDROME )
Tadzimvela tokha a Malawi. Akuti akuluwa akufuna kuyimila u president chifukwa ndi ufulu wawo. Nothing else….should we really participate in elections just because it is our right? If voted into power what will you do? Akuluwa apa nde awonetselatudi kuti he is a disgruntled guy as many have been claiming…..nde amenewa alidi ndi zolinga zodzatukula dziko lino?
Don’t waste your time you have your party to support, your comment will not convert anyone.
Kupala zoopsa..Reminds me how he lost initial debate to Richard Msowoya in 2014..Running mates debate…on ZBC
ineso zomwe akuyankha, kaya mwina ndi vuto la reporter
Well spoken,, very clear, to the point, no beating about the bush, only facts! you just won my vote
Ichoooo! ……..moto kuti buuuu!
Akanadziwa sakanapitako ndithu
Good Job Sir!
Impressive! amuna amuna
Well done!
SKC seriously flopped. He could not understand Zeinab’s questions. As far as SKC is concerned, one cannot resign because he has a contract. But surely he is not resigning because without employment how will he get funding for UTM. Even my mum has a constitutional right to be president but not every Jim and Jack can run for this post. He has to show us why he is fit, not age, not constitutional right, not CEO of Airtel. Running a country is serious business. What did he achieve at Airtel that others haven’t? Is Mr Kamoto the next president.
And he flopped on corruption fight. How can he say he is working with corrupt government because it is his right. And JB association? Eish.!!!!!!!!!!
Pumbwa wamkulu kkkkkk amayenda mmbali
inuyo ndewoziwa psyuta
Wa pala kwa inuyo man , osamanena zako bwanji iwe uzitiuza za muntuyo ngati ife sitikumuona , muzipanga zanu ma cadet
Very well spoken! Impressed
SKC you looked soooooo Presidential, you had your facts and to the point, you were calm and composed, …………osatekeseka! iwe uli duuu…….. You have my vote
Anakumana ndi ntola nkhani opanda mbalik asking real, objective & serious questions. So za a Brian banda kkkk
Thanks Zeinab, wandifunsra mafunso omwe ndimafunitsitsa nditanfunsa Chilima if i were to be given an opportunity. This Chilima guy just wants the presidency, if it was about helping Malawians, he would have done it from wayyy back. Akungofuna mpando onona wa u president basi. To be honest, Chilima cant be compared to Mutharika, not even Chakwera. I think ma levels a Chilima ndi amayi, Kamlepo…. Any sane Malawian cant vote for Chilima. Mutharika has tried, he may not be the perfect president we want but he has changed the face of Malawi. Those of you in diaspora, kumabwerako kumudzi before kulubwalubwa pa Nyasatimes or FB. Chilima has surrounded himself with greedy people, Malawians cant waste their time voting for him. IT WAS VERY POSSIBLE TO FIGHT WHAT HE CALLS EVILS OF DPP while there, and we would have known that he has peoples welfare at heart, not getting salary for free, to fund his campaign. Be a man of integrity, resign so you dont waste tax payers money.
you must be a sick maggot to claim Mutharika has changed the face of Malawi
What shocked me about SKC’s showing, is not just his horrendous performance (like him or not, it was very very poor), it is the cancer that is forever holding us back as a country, that is, our readiness to despise everything about Malawi just to score personal points, even to an important international audience that in spite of our failures need to build confidence and see us as a worthy trading and investing partner..
Why would a whole Vice President be so ready to denounce some of the positive areas that the country has achieved as per independent analysis by credible international institutions just because he has broken ranks with former political cronies and wants to score cheap political points? Didn’t he think in doing so, he was erasing his very good contributions to the little that Government has achieved? How can then he go out and claim he is great because of some achievements by Government while in the same breath say others are useless (never mind that Government is all about collective contributions?).
I could go on but this is food for thought… for this man, it is all me, me, me, me and nothing else matters. What sort of Government will he build and ran?
SKC anamuphika zedi. He could not give good reasons for turning against APM and why he wants to run for Presidency. Can constitutional right be the reason? Bwanawa azingopeka miyambi yachichewa basi. He has been part of DPP agenda and he cannot exonerate himself after 4 years.
Proud to be a Malawian! you carry the banner well SKC
so proud of you, moto kuti buu
SKC you are the best!!!!
Well done, calm and collected, well versed of events and facts, so proud of this young man!
Great Job SKC, Well done man!
kkkkkkk I Listened to the interview hahahahaha chilima was sweating. Anakomana ndi atolankhani enieni osati akwathu kuno umayimailira mbali akawapasa korapasono, ngakhale mbaliyo ili yolakwika. That Zienab lady was on fire, Chilima couldn’t even answer some of the questions straight, stupid man he can’t even see that he’s been set up by his own people to do that interview in UK so that azungu can see how ungrateful and greedy he is.
Veep Malewezi dumped UDF in 2004 he served as Veep to the end of Bakili’s sad term then came Bingu dumping UDF never resigned the presidency before long Chilumpha was in a dogfight with Bingu DPP-UDF loyalties never did resign his vice presidency and never did JB resign over her expulsion from DPP the resignation question takes away the constitutional advantages that the incumbent does enjoy in discharging his duties as well as campaigning Chilima this is your historical moment use the hour for the benefit of your people
These donor already know how they govt is not serious on fighting corruption cause these final decision makers are the main culprits so smart mzungu changed donor funds channels and these aphumba have to find other means!
True leaders have persuasive skills in abundance. If that’s the case why is it that as #2 to the head of state, why was Chilima unable to effect all the initiatives and programs he casually talk about. Yes, times change but integrity is integrity. Moral values are moral values; these traits shouldn’t and don’t necessarily change. Once a thief always a thief…..once dishonest (with small things), always dishonest. I am convinced that once elected, you’ll have a list of excuses as to why you are unable to deliver….probably ranging from lack of skills in the people around you to lack of commitment by public officers or even blaming donors etc. Your ability to lead and persuade should have been demonstrated when you were VP (which you still are). You should have changed things whilst still active VP
Intellectual capabilities tested..eeeiiishhh..false hopes in this man..disaster on the making…
Mwanayu ndi kape amadziona ngati ndiwa nzeru kwambiri
Well done SKC
Kunena zoona akuluwa amatha
Thanks Badawi for grilling Chilima. He has been exposed as a fluke – his responses were poor and unconvincing.
The adopted street kid without vision. failing to take questions from learned journalist! Disclose to them where your getting the resources and the world is a liberty to believe you.
Just come back udzame matokoso kuno
Disastrous!
This is the worst interview I have ever watched in my life. Saulos ! Why ??????
Kunena zoona akuluwa apala !!!!
Zako izo. Wakula watha mphwanga
Sindikuonapo chomwe wapala this was just on point unless one is a cadet
Apala bwa?
Pati – sibwino kunena mkazi kuti ali ku ma period chonsecho wangovala panti wa red
I disagree. Listened to the whole interview and i think he answered all the questions very well
Mwina mafunsowa akadakhala chichewa akadamva, mphavu ya mowa ndimeneyi.