Tonse’s long walk into ‘Canaan’: Malawi presidential elections
It’s been a long, tempting journey. A journey that started with a protracted legal battle against electoral injustice. Every time the court took a break, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and Dr. Saulos Chilima of UTM, sat on a bench under the shade, waiting for electoral justice.
Perhaps, it’s their wait for electoral justice–while sitting on that wooden bench– that nudged the two into reality: that their cause was singular.
They both meant well for democracy and Malawi. They both put on impressive campaigns for the country’s presidency, something they eventually felt robbed of. With their joint undying quest for Malawi’s liberation, the two seemed to have finally come to an understanding that they needed each other as soon as before 2019 polls.
And it was not just the two leaders who started considering joining hands against the dark forces of corruption, nepotism, impunity, and lawlessness that had long bedeviled the country.
MCP and UTM supporters outside the court joined forces to support anti-Jane Ansah’s seven month-long protests organised Human Rights Defenders Coalition. Carrying their parties’ paraphernalia, the supporters of the two political parties were seen easily mingling with one another.
No wonder, soon after Chakwera and Chilima’s victory against the electoral injustice, a pressure group from both MCP and UTM emerged, asking the two leaders to join forces ahead of the court sanctioned polls on 23rd June 2020. Within days, notable figures in the two parties started campaigning for the UTMCP coalition.
“Went Chakwera and Chilima together,” said Madalitso Kazombo, MCP parliamentarian for Kasungu West and First Deputy Speaker in Parliament.
It didn’t take long for the two parties to issue two separate statements, indicating they had initiated talks for a possible coalition ahead of the fresh presidential poll.
The culmination of everything was the official signing ceremony of coalition at Masintha Ground on 19th March, 2020.
Reacting to the development, former President Dr. Joyce Banda described the ceremony as a dream come true. She said the coalition is for the good of the country.
“When some critics saw Dr. Chakwera and Chilima sit on the bench at the court, they thought the two leaders were simply wasting their time. I am now happy to see that the solidarity they showed during the court case has led to this coalition,” said Dr. Banda.
But, as it surfaced, it wasn’t just a UTMCP coalition. Six other political parties; Peoples Party, Alliance for Democracy, Peoples Progressive Movement, People’s Transformation Alliance, MAFUNDE, and Umodzi Party endorsed and joined the coalition which later came to be known as Tonse Alliance.
UTM leader, Saulos Klaus Chilima assured the mammoth crowd that came to witness the big occasion that Tonse Alliance would ensure that manifestos of all the political would be developed into one document that speaks to wishes and aspirations of Malawi.
“We will be remembered for selflessly putting together our resources of wisdom, virtue and zeal to liberate our people from the bondage of poverty, impunity, hunger and lawlessness,” said Chilima.
So, when the official campaign got underway on 19th April, 2020, Tonse Alliance had a well thought-through manifesto. Major promises like reducing the price of fertilizer to K4495, removal of water and electricity connection fee, creation of one million jobs, raising of the minimum wage to K50 000 and increased a tax-free threshold to K100 000, seemed to have resonated well with majority of Malawians.
This was anchored by Chakwera’s super Hi-5: servant leadership, uniting Malawians, prospering together, fighting corruption and rule of law.
The team crisscrossed the country with the campaign messages, convincing Malawians why Tonse Alliance deserves their votes.
However, the campaign wasn’t without obstacles. Ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on several attempts tried to prevent Tonse Alliance from campaigning in the Southern Region. The party had to hire thugs to physically assault Tonse Alliance followers.
The highlight of the dark spot during the campaign period was the political violence allegedly sponsored by the DPP was the torching of the UTM office in Lilongwe, killing three people in the process.
But despite all the violence motivated by regionalism and tribalism, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, Tonse Alliance torch bearer remained steadfast of his message of unity. Speaking during the final day of the campaign in Lilongwe, Chakwera reiterated his promise to become the president for all Malawians, once elected.
“Lazarus Chakwera will not be the President of MCP, neither Tonse Alliance. He will be the President of all Malawians including those in DPP and UDF,” he said.
And as he is set to become the country’s sixth President, one hopes that all what Chakwera and Chilima have promised Malawians should into fruition. That way, Malawians will really have reached the much-awaited promised land, Canaan.
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l would like to sing the powerful words of Kamuzu Banda, those during my days can dance with me A kamuzu anati pobwera yeyaye, ku Malawi kwacha, ku Malawi kwacha. ananena tigwilizane, tonse a Malawi tigwilizane, ku Malawi Kwacha. Viva tonse alliance.
Anthu olanda inu tionesana 2024 ngati muti mufike nafenso tiyambepo ma demo wave after wave muone mmene zimakhalira mumazionera patali tsopano zakubwererani pafupi nanunso mumve kupweteka tiphwanye katundu wanu tiwonongenso zanu tsopano tionetsana.
They are elections in 2024 baba but rather 2025. I can foresee these guys ruling beyond that.
A never give up mentality has given them all this.This one teaches us that in life you should not say ”I CAN’T BUT RATHER SAY I WILL TRY.”
I can hear the voice of God saying ” Well done my humble servants, you have fought a great battle for the voiceless and marginalised Malawians”, and you have been awarded the Nobel prize, the Presidency.
Congratulations Dr. Chakwera and Dr. Chilima, and many other men and women , who stood on the truth, giving all they had, for the betterment of all Malawians.
A new Malawi, wherein peace will prevail, prosperity will be noticeable, unity and hard work will be the core of our beloved country’s foundation, and the citizenry will be law abiding, has began.
We will all be proud to call ourselves Malawians, and collectively endeavour to realise the ultimate and maximum potential of the whole nation, without fear, favour, or prejudice.
Let us all move forward, and build Malawi, while making sure all those people who squandered our country’s resources for personal gains does not go unpunished.
We Malawians are demo victims we want to be compensated now. Some lost life, businesses, properties and our friends assaulted. We have not done business during the past year because of demonstrations. We have been terrorrised by fellow Malawians. And by the way we want Malawians now to be Fred from illegal refugees carrying out businesses.We want power to indeginous Malawians. It’s our Government!
I think the best way is to keep on praying for them so that the Lord will give them more courage to fulfill their promises because that’s what we’ve voted for.
God bless our new leaders
God bless Tonse Alliance
God bless Malawi.
Chakwera and Chilima have to sit on that bench for another year. While Mr Peter Mutharika muses on what to do with 400,000 bags of cement!
Good luck guys. Do us good to deliver what you promised and lied on the podium. If not, then the minority DPP-UDF opposition will grow into a majority the way it happened to you. ‘Ukalanda mkazi or mwamuna nzako nawenso uziyembekezera kulandidwa.’
The fact is that DPP has maintained it’s 38% of the votes it got last time. Meaning it won the 2019 presidential elections. Since additions of opposing the results were more and joined forces, then it seems like they lost.
Mbakuwaku has a point, the re-run changed the playing field. It was an error to have a Judicial Review that could change the elections goal posts. That was referred to a Judicial Cop.
Mark my words, MCP and UTM, chaona nzako chapita mawa chiri pa iwe. Panopa MCP will swallow UTM or UTM will emerge the leader over MCP. These two leaders (Chakwera and Chilima) will tussle with zelous party members to converge their magement ideologies and run the government smoothly. They are not professional government administrators. Sintchetera kuona nkhani za ma sectors tonse. Munya muona.
Sunachilebe? Koma nde wachedwatu. Anzako have moved on. Prophet of DOOM
NYEKHWE, kikikikiiiiiiii.
Well written….
Hi, you legal eagles out there. I want to ask a hypothetical question just as a matter of interest: When Chilima assumes the vice-presidency under Chakwera and decides to retire from politics after the term is over, will he receive a double pension having been a “double” vice-president?😁🇲🇼
Its possible when leaders are honest and determined. My only disappointment is the trend in lower shire. The so called giant betrayed us. The numbers were not from a giant. Our leaders should critically look into that. All in all congratulations
Ulendo uno mwina tioneko atsogoleri osiyanisa kuyendesa Boma ndi kupanga ndale paja neighbour amati DPP ndi chipani cholamula ife tikuti zimenezo zithe ntchito za Boma ziziyenda pazokha osaphatikiza ndi za chipani ndipo aonesese kuti zipani ziziyendesedwa osagwilisa ntchito katutu wa Boma zikatelo zibwana zichepa ndipo tionadi zitukuko zenizeni zosayang’ana mbali zomwe anthu amachokela.
Nthawi zambiri amawononga Boma ndi anthu omwe amalowesa ndale mu Boma. Kuyambila pano apolisi asiye zokhalira misokhano olo zoyimayima mbali mwa misewu kudikila president kuti aduse, nawo mafumu ayambembo kugwira ntchito zawo zenizeni, ma board member amakapani a Boma asamalowese ndale mu company za Boma nawononso ma CEO asiye kulowesa ndale makapani a Boma. Ndipo onosesani kuti munthu yemwe akulembedwa ntchito mu Boma ali ndi mapepala ayenela.
Paja congrats tinapeleka nthawi yomwe survey inatuluka ija pano tingoti tiyeni titipule za ntchito anthu awone kusitha miyoyo yawo
Viva Malawi 🇲🇼💪🏾
Excellent writing. We now see a better future for all. Free at last. Free at last.
Beautiful article! I can say it’s part of building materials in the developing process of building one Malawi. I salute you.
Its been a long road, but thank God Almighty we can rest assured the country is in good hands.
,” The dark forces of corruption, nepotism, impunity and lawlessness” a pretty accurate description of the DNA of APM and his bunch of DPP diehards! Thank God the DPP reign of social and state sponsored terrorism is over at last. I remember this 26 year old brain washed female MP warning people in her constituency in Phalombe the other day including the chiefs that she was not going to tolerate anyone of them found patronising rallies organized by the opposition or leadership from the central region and once caught, would be dealt with severely. That’s how deep triblistic poison had spread in the minds of many that pay their homage to A DAD. Rehabilitation of such mindsets is a huge challenge but needs to be done in order to truly unite Malawians as one nation. I hope and pray that Former President Bakili Muluzi should help in this regard.
Which Former Muluzi are u talking about to unite Malawians ? The same person he was telling the people Kwa Goliat that they need to vote for Atupele Muluzi coz he is their son??
I beg to differ to let Senior Muluzi to play any part of uniting Malawians. He is one of tribalism guy, why he gave the Party presidency to his underage son Atupele by then while there were lots of people with dignity in UDF such as Justice Malewezi , Aleke Banda and etc.