UTM donates to flood victims: Kaliati says ‘this is not politics’
UTM Party officials Friday visited and consoled flood victims in Lilongwe donating various items which included blankets and food items.
Led by UTM Secretary General Patricia Kaliati and Publicity Secretary Joseph Chidanti Malunga and other party officials, the group visited flood victims and also inspected the damaged Chidzanja Bridge in Lilongwe which was damaged by rains a few days ago.
“We decided to visit and console our brothers and sisters because of what has befallen them, this is not politics, if it were politics, we would have called our members and give them relief items, but we are giving each and everyone because we are all Malawians,” said Chidanti.
“We know that maybe government would have been the first to come here through the disaster department but we thought it wise to come and console them, yes we cannot give them everything that they need but we believe that by being together even words of comfort help in lessening the pain,” added Chidanti.
He also said there is need to protect river banks to avoid floods.
“We need to manage the river banks so that we avoid these flash floods,” said Chidanti.
A beneficiary of the relief items Esther Chipoja who had her three houses damaged because of the flash floods thanked UTM for coming to their rescue.
“We thank the UTM party for giving us the items, they will go a long way to alleviate the problems that we have because of the floods,” said Chipoja.
She asked government to construct a proper bridge with proper drainage to avoid the floods.
makape inu ma cadet simutiuza maso mpenya a mutharika ayi mimangosusa za nfundo za utm kumapanga attack antuwo personally kukanika kukamba nfundo zokuzana ndi ziko kuti fotokozela za peter mutharika mumene angatanizile amalawi maso mpenya ake ndi ukaulowa mukukanika kunena nfundo zabambo ameneyi mungolimbana ndi chilima , tiuzeni nfundo za dpp ndi maso mpenya awo mukukanika ,
Let me congratulate UTM for this gesture of love and compassion to people who have been befallen by this tragedy. I think that all political and non-political organizations need to hold hands to support those facing tragedies like this one. I personally believe that there is no government in the world that takes care of all needs that people have. Citizen participation is very critical.
A small ADVICE to UTM communication/ Marketing Team(?): There is, in communication, what is called ‘NOISE’. The meaning for this word in communication circles is slightly different from how it is used in our day to day lives. It technically translates COMPETITION or DISTURBANCE.
In this context I see several factors that are competing with the intended message or disturbing the communication participant like the reader of this article: a) the people who are giving out support b) what they actually said c) what they are wearing d) how the platform has been constructed e) the presence of journalists in the picture e) what the writer of this story is focusing on f) the timing of the activity g) materials or food or purse that is being given.
From where I am standing I hear a lot of NOISE from this story. In other words, some things are not adding up here.
Was this activity charity or political campaign? Six factors to consider: a) The key persons are known politicians who are currently cris-crossing the country campaign for the 2019 general elections b) The persons are wearing POLITICAL colors b) Based on I can see in the pictures, UTM has obviously spent more money constructing the podium (materials, labor, logistics, time, etc) than what was used to buy the support given to flood victims. No? c) If what they are saying that “this is NOT politics” is true, WHAT IS POLITICS in their vocabulary? d) Why is this podium in political colors? By the way, was it necessary to build a podium for an activity like this? What was the podium used for? To display the party /people giving or the gifts being given or the victims receiving the gifts? e) Was it necessary to have journalists around if indeed this was genuine charity? Perhaps that’s ok. All organizations do that. But, was it necessary for the writer of this article to focus so much on ‘UTM’ (Actually, “UTM” is mentioned 5 times in this article!) or it should have focused on the needs that the flood victims have so that other organizations can focus on those unmet needs? If all that a person reads in this article in UTM campaigning, was the activity worth it to the party? Isn’t this 4 months to general elections? What picture is UTM painting to its would-be supporters in this crisis zone? A matured group of politicians or the opposite?
A word of caution to all our political leaders and parties: BE AWARE OF “UNINTENDED MESSAGES” THAT YOU MAY PASS ONTO YOUR AUDIENCE. YOU NEED TO CONSULT COMMUNICATION EXPERTS TO ADVISE YOU HOW TO AVOID BEING CAUGHT UP IN THIS WEB OF COMMUNICATION “NOISE”. I am sure that the true (intended) objectives of this “RALLY” were not met if my experience in the field is anything to go by. Unfortunately, people, particularly Malawians, will not tell you in the face about these forms of NOISES or COMMUNICATION misfiring. They will lie in your face and “nyogodola” after you have left.
Next time UTM or indeed any other party wants to conduct a similar exercise, let them think twice or simply consult those who understand PR or communication in general. I am sure that UTM could have harvested votes from this event if they planned it well for this is what I think they wanted to achieve. I may be wrong. But there are all signs to this effect. Nanguudutsamo.
Kent Y. G. Mphepo – Blantyre – 0888435629 (for constructive dialogue only)
That podium is a lorry. i assume it is the one they used to carry the donations.
YOU FOOLS,this is not politics but rather PATRIOTISM(love for the people of our country) It is unlike Muthalika who told his voters in Mulanje to eat RATS AND GRASSHOPPERS when they were exposed to hunger and shortage of food.The action taken by UTM TO HELP OUR PEOPLE,is pure nationalism that the people of Malawi support.We Malawians in diaspora strongly support the actions taken by the UTM ,the beloved party of our nation.The fact of the matter is that,Muthalika and DPP do not care about the suffering masses of our people,to them DPP is the PARTY of death and corruption whose leaders work to fill their BAGS OF SATANIC MONEY!!!!!!!!! Malawians wakeup,Muthalika is in our country to sweep our resources for his own satsfications like his late thug brother Bingu Muthalika.FORWARD WITH UTM UNDER THE UNDISPUTED LEADERSHIP OF THE BRILLIANT S.CHILIMA THE REAL SON OF MALAWI.FORWARD WITH PEOPLE. UTM BOMA!!!!!
kkkkk ‘This is not political’ and yet they wore party colours!!!
A Kaliati, its political otherwise you would have dressed like Dausi when he visited victims of road accident in casual wear.
And what are the camera men doing, how did they know you will be going to make the donation? Its political.
Chifukwatu ife amene nyumba zathu zinaonongeka fe, wina nkumati mvula ija inali chizimalupsa, zinatiwawa, tinaona kuti that was being insensitive kwambiri. Anzako tikulira iwe nkumatichita ridicule chonchi, likanakhala kale nkanati panyapako wamva, koma chifukwa ndinayamba kupephera, sindinena
Mvula ya chizimalupsa imaononganso katundu? Tandifunsireniko kwa a Kaliati, abale? Sikulakhula kopusa kumenekuja?
I thought she ridiculed the same people ali ku Salima saying kuti nyumba zawo zangwa ndi mvula ya chizalupsa. Wasn’t that sufficient insult to the people?
If it’s not politics why were you in party colors. You think people are stupid. You are looking for votes basi.
Moto kuti buuuuuuuuu
Boy! Does a picture tell a thousand words? Ever?
Just look again at Kabwira and Kaliati. Their body language tells all: Akwiya (the are sulking) as if they are fporce to be on the same “stage”.
And, they are looking in different directions, and obviously, they can’t stand each other. We knew that already “yesterday”. (Most “marriages” of convenience – and the whole UTM bus is occupied by very disparate people indeed – often do not have records of success! And this one may NOT end well!)
The only reason Kaliati and kabwila can physically be so close to each other is, probably, the boss (Chilima) read the riot act to them before he left for the US. Notice how I am not sure which person to name first? It’s because makani ao are legendary – loose translation: they have similar ferocity – the only similarity that comes to mind was that between Muhamed Ali and George Foreman in “The Ramble in the Jungle” fight at Mai Stadium in Kanshasa on October 30, 1974. What a fight that was!
Kabwira and Kaliati: These are two alpha females. Do they ride in the same cars, and sit next to each other for long distances? If so, what do they talk about, and agree on, if anything? For long?
Prediction: the civility will not last. Each one will want to oust the other for existential dominance. And for the boss’s favor.
Another prediction: this is all for naught, as as both of them will lose at the polls. Any one wants to wager? And only Kabwira will go back to greener pastures.
Meanwhile, Chilima is having a hard time, and driving against stiff head winds, and trying to make himself relevant in the US. And borrowing money; or begging for money and eating humble pie already.
On a personal note, Chilima could make the trip positive: by checking into a rehab for substance (specifically alcohol) abuse while he’s there.
Like killing two or three birds with on LEGEN (catapult) shot – he claimed he always has a Legeni in his pocket. What a shot that would be!
Seriously, abale, we wish wish him good luck on this even if we are politically adversaries.
And, finally, the UTM bus will be stuck in the proverbial mud on a road in our Malawi, and no tow truck will be available, ever, to pull tow away the bus. Kikiki for our country, being landlocked and so poor, this is the best I could come up with closest to “a sinking ship” analogy.
kkkkkkkkk it seems like UTM is targetting MCP more. Lilongwe and central region is where UTM hold most of its rallies and now this? Look at their so-callled mega rallies they have organized, most of them in central and yet they call them nationwide. Be careful MCP you might lose your popularity in the central.
if its not politics then why are they clad in party colours
If this is not politics then please school me what it is? Why set up a podium with UTM colours? Why dress in party regalia? Stop fooling us people and accept that you taken advantage of this tragedy to advance your political gains.
well done nde kuonesa uchimalawi umeneo kutandiza antu ntawi yovutika , congrants utm party
It is UTM the political party donating to Malawians!!