UTM bid to register as political party rejected: Malawi registrar says application ‘misleading’

An application by United Transformation Movement (UTM) to register as a political party in Malawi has been rejected.

Vice President Dr  Saulos  Klaus Chilima:  Leading UTM

The applicants filed the documents with the Registrar of Political Parties on September 13 2018.

The Registrar has not registered the party and has informed the applicants that the bid was turned down because “the application is not conformity with the Act in terms of Section 7 (1) as read with Section 18(a) (1) and (ii) of the Act”.

According to a refusal decision signed by deputy registrar of political parties, Chikumbutso Numelo, UTM officials “consciously and deliberately submitted documents which carefully omit any reference to the full name under which they have been publicly holding out as [United Transformation Movement].”

Numelo said: “The publicly known fact that UTM is not a standalone name but an abbreviation for United Transformative Movement is a relevant matter which as Registrar of Political Parties with responsibility of registering and regulating political parties I have to take into account.”

The deputy registrar pointed out that the decision to present registration documents in the name of UTM and not the full name, United Transformation Movement, from which the abbreviation UTM derives was “will fully intended to mislead the Registrar of political parties for purposes of obtaining registration of the party.”

Numelo believes the scheme “to mislead” the Registrar was motivated by the knowledge of the applicants of the existence of the United Transformation Party (UTP) being a name which resembles that of United Transformation Movement – which the Registrar would have considered in registering owing to Section  7 (b) (ii) – due to its similarities.

UTP is led by Newton Kambala, a businessperson and former president of Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI), who is now in UTM and has been saying publicly that they rebranded to UTM.

The Registrar has also informed the applicants   that it is an offence under Section 17 of the Political Parties Act to electioneer in connection with an election in which political parties contest unless it is a registered party.

Numelo said if UTM is not satisfied with the decision it can appeal to the High Court within 21 days.

UTP registered as political party number 50 on March 23 2016 and has been a key member of opposition political parties, primarily without parliamentary representation, that formed a coalition bloc dubbed ‘Tikonze Dziko Lathu’, to field a candidate during next year’s polls.

UTM, which started as Chilima Movement, and has been working with Wodya Zake Alibe Mlandu political grouping headed by Michael Usi, popularly known as Manganya. has maintained UTP’s red and gold colours, but changed other things such as the logo and motto.

They will  hold their elective convention on November 9 2018 at a venue to be communicated later.

UTM interim secretary general Patricia Kaliati and spokesperson Joseph Chidanti-Malunga were both tight-fisted on the matter.

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Dzikotsala
Dzikotsala
5 years ago

If we are to talk about political party names which “resemble” did we not have the Republican Party and then the New Republican Party existing at the same time? Gwanda had registered the former, rejoined MCP or UDF, then came back and registered the latter?

mark
mark
5 years ago

JUST ACCEPT …YOU WANTED FOOL THE REGISTRAR … YOU HAVE GOOFED

Kenn
Kenn
5 years ago

Mwayambazi zikuchita kuoneseratu kuti ndinu achipani China chake
Mwayiwala ntchito yanu big

Kodi utm yi yayamba kumakunjenjemesanitu phiri?

Gertrude
Gertrude
5 years ago

Zibwana zimenezo! More sympathy votes for Chilima!! What is wrong with you people???

BALE
BALE
5 years ago

Chilima is a CROOK. He has stolen UTP and turned it into UTM but still wants to hide the fact that UTM is United Transformation Movement. Then you start complaining, when you are the one who has been dishonest.

jamax
jamax
5 years ago

Chipani ichi chili ngati mwana obadwa patchire ndi chifukwa chake dzina lake likuvuta kkkkk!!!! Tsopano inu a Chilima ndi anzanu simumaona kuti izi zidzavuta??? Tangosankhani dzina lina apa mutha maina alipo ambili e.g Ntojani Party (NP), or Enemies of Aphumbwa Party (EAP) or United Spirits of Darkness Party (USDP), or Dirty Mouth Party (DMP) choose one of the given names and you will the registrer will find no problem ok. Tiyeni nazoni poti mwaziyamba nokha.

#DzukaniAmalawi
#DzukaniAmalawi
5 years ago

It is unforgivable that a whole party would lodge registration documents with UTM acronym as the name of the party. The lawyers should be fired forthwith. Its like registering Chilima with MEC as SKC. Is this the quality of people that are in UTM who can’t basic things right. What if they’re in charge of K1,5 triilion budget. Would we trust them that they would spend it wisely for the benefit of Malawians. Come on UTM, you can do better than this. The Registrar is within his legal right to reject the application although it might be seen as politically… Read more »

Eduardo
Eduardo
5 years ago

Eti just imagine. Mmesa a Chilima amaoneka ngati anzeru. Apa nde apanga za dothi heavy.

Zamadula
Zamadula
5 years ago

In his zeal to reject the registration, the Deputy Registrar even confuses the abbreviation for the already registered United Transformation Party as UTM, rather than UTP! (see second paragraph on page 2).

In truth, many legal entities are registered as abbreviations without regard to their full names – as long as the abbreviation does not match that of a similar entity. UTM and UTP are not the same. With more than 60 political parties already registered, it should not take too long to expose the Deputy Registrar’s hypocrisy in this exercise…

#DzukaniAmalawi
#DzukaniAmalawi
5 years ago

When observers descend on Malawi during the elections, they will look at things like these to determine whether there was a level playing field for all political parties. Already we can sense, as ordinary citizens, that the field isn’t levelled. If these vicious tactics are happening now, how about when we get close to the elections. Malawian citizens have never been so militant until the DPP came into power. some would say that the MCP Youth League and MCP were brutal….yes they were but the ordinary citizens were fully protected. Today, no one is free; we are scared to walk… Read more »

Apumbwa
Apumbwa
5 years ago

Will just make us stronger!!! moto kuti buuuuu

kandodo
5 years ago
Reply to  Apumbwa

compare them which are confusing u and come up with a reasonable convincing judgement
to these people

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