UTM gives MCP until June 19 to meet demand for ‘better representation’
UTM Party led by state vice president, Dr Saulos Chilima is alleged to have given the Malawi Congress Party hierarchy to meet its fair share of representation or risk breaking away, it has been reported.
The widening gulf between the two parties seem to have reached irreparable levels, only surviving because President Lazarus Chakwera and Vice President Dr Saulos Chilima agree on the bigger mandate given to them by the citizens who wanted change badly. Their agreement and unity of purpose is displayed openly in public.
Recently, Chilima, while on development projects tour in Karonga, tackled the issue of disunity in the MCP dominated Tonse Alliance.
He said: “Let us remain united. This is not time for squabbles or political campaigns. This is the time to deliver our promises to the people, including providing loans and jobs and reducing the prices of passports. I want to ask that the alliance should move on united.”
A respected British fortnightly newsletter, Africa Confidential, whose reports and analyses are valued and relied upon by a wide range of influential organizations and individuals, says ‘UTM has given an ultimatum to MCP to meet its demands by 19 June or break away.’
The African Confidential in its Volume 62 No 11 reports: “The UTM has given the MCP until 19 June, we hear, to meet its demands for better representation or they will leave the governing alliance.
“To be arguing over appointments to top jobs this long after the election is not a good look for either coalition partner, each of which accuses the other of hogging the best jobs. Much sought-after diplomatic appointments are being held up, and leaked documents indicate that most of the plum jobs are going to MCP allies.”
President Chakwera promised to release a new cabinet following assessments but that promise remains unfulfilled. It is noted that it’s the President’s prerogative to appoint and fire his cabinet but when statements are made to the citizens, a lack of fulfilment without plausible explanation become lies.
Some social commentators believe President Chakwera is struggling to appoint a new Cabinet after UTM made its demands that stopped the announcement after the President Press Secretary had publicly stated such cabinet was to be released within 48 hours.
“UTM need a fair share of appointments into senior cabinet posts, embassies, parastatal and other key government departments. We have brilliant vibrant men and women who want to develop this country, but MCP’s behaviour is a stumbling block. We want to splint but they want us to walk, so we feel enough is enough,” said a UTM governing council executive member who pleaded for anonymity.
The level of resistance within MCP can be felt in statements like those given by its secretary general, Eisenhower Mkaka, who is also a government powerful Ministry of Foreign Affairs minister.
“There is no entity called Tonse Alliance. We went to the polls on MCP ticket, leading the Tonse Alliance, but within the alliance, parties have maintained their independence in terms of operations and existence,” said Mkaka in a television interview.
UTM die-hards feel sidelined and overlooked on representations making them feel the hard work towards dislodging Peter Mutharika and the DPP in the June 23 fresh presidential election is not appreciated.
Our sources say Chilima is constantly pleading with his team to calm down as this is not a UTM government, but the “game changers” are tired of being goaded by MCP suppoerts on social media and in other circles.
A powerful politician from North Malawi who is also UTM Party spokesman, Frank Mwenifumbo, had said it was unimportant for them [UTM and MCP] to be arguing over power saying “this is time for development.”
Besides jostling for top positions representation, UTM and MCP are locked in another battle of who will lead the Alliance in the 2025 presidential election as supporters of both camps, especially UTM, believe that Chakwera agreed to only govern for five years and pave the way for Chilima in a rotational presidency which consolidates power to the Central region of Malawi.
MCP national campaign director, Moses Kunkuyu, said that Chakwera has the constitutional right to seek another term.
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there is just no more quality left in Malawian leadership, the gap was missed when Kamuzu gracefully lost the elections to Muluzi, where are the young educated aspiring Malawians whom were being groomed to take over ? they all left the country to the benefit of other countries.Greed and back biting,bitterness is nothing new in Malawi.Now people are beginning to ask questions on this current Government, I am made to believe that UTM does have capable candidates to make huge changes in Malawi
Waku Kenani uwu, koma tadzera kaye ku Kasiya kkkkkkkkkkkk
Tikafika koma mochedwa tili zipsyera zokhazokha kkkk
Utm is nothing and can’t demand equal representation with mcp.
So what will happen if UTM break away…
Nothing will happen. MCP is there to stay. MCP anthu amayikonda kwambiri .
U know urself
But according to the Constitution and court ruling on Muluzi’s candidacy barred by MEC in 2009, is Chilima not serving the second and final term in the Presidency? By the way, can Bakili Muluzi be appointed running mate and serve as Vice President? Am just playing with my brain chifukwa pa ground sipali bwino
Nthawi imene ija akhothi amatsatira malamulo koma ino ndi nthawi yotsatira Kenyatta Nyirenda
Kupusa, he has not served as Malawi president, only vice president, he is at liberty to be Malawi president if he wins and no law can stop him from contesting
Late Dr Justin Malewezi was accepted as presidential candidate on independent ticket in 2004 after serving for 10 years as state Vice president. It may be acceptable for SKC as well.
Nope, not after that court ruling of 2009. Just google search the ruling of the State Vs Muluzi in 2009 and read the entire judgment mopanda Phuma. You will the interpretation of the word Maximum Terms in the presidency. Unless SKC decided not to finish his term as VP.
So it’s about positions not to serve Malawians we are watching
How can you serve when you don’t have positions?????
Foseki
You just want to enrich your self
One can serve his nation from any angle bwana Keen Observer
I agree with your point here. We need politicians who should serve not crying for positions which implies are looking for money which wrong since a politician can serve under any position as he or she contributes positively or actively as an MP, Councillor or party member or alliance member by using their resources or time not Government’s. Politicians crying for positions are looking forward to get access to government resources start abusing. Tonse Alliance Government challenges be made public and all Malawians should debate and recommend solutions on way forward.
I feel what is happening in Tonse Alliance is not fair at all. Powerful Ministries, Parastatals are indeed dominated by MCP. Selfishness and Greedy in MCP; hence the delay in releasing New Cabinet. Chakwera za Ubusa, kupemphera anazitayira ukooo kkkkk koma u President ndi power! Ife tiri pheee ku ma stand ku . Mukamaliza mutiuza.
Chakwera as President of Malawi is in serving in the Political Ministry of God. I am not pro MCP nor UTM . My message is simple politicians should not be crying for positions or money rewards which is not servant political leadership which Godly but mammon spirit (evil) the love of money. Would like to better reasons from UTM not positions or positions with better money rewards, NO!!!!!. I would love to hear of failures on positions and appropriate solutions for the benefits of Malawians not politician or party.
Then you have diplomats involved in booze laundering, no quality, just embarrassing
Tiyeni nazoni ife tikuonera kanema yanuyi title yake ndindani wa dyera?
DPP cadets, mwasowa zolemba.
Koma dzina la Cadet lisakhale pobisalila , chilichonse chotsamwa Cadet this ,cadet that , tiyendan chitsogolo koma ?
“We want to develop this country ” mmmm koma anthu akafuna money, ayaya. U r after enriching urself, nde zoona zake, osamanamapo apa
Chilima was duoes because of greed. He gave out too much and now he is at the receiving end. Dont cry now . We tood you in advance about all this and you chose to disagree. People who make decision of public appointments are Chimwendo Banda, Chikhosi and Nkaka and Chakwea is just a lame duck. Just a stooge who is told what to do
Zanu izo musova ife tilibe nazo ntchito
UTM going back to bus transport business…..kwacha
Good
Cadet amwa temic Chaka chino…….Tonse alliance will not break.
The only valuable person in UTM is Saulos Chilima though he goofed on one million jobs. The rest of UTM members are just trash or garbage. If they want to leave they can leave. Fupa lokakamiza silichedwa kuswa mphika. Ukwati sitikakamiza. Let them go with their 5 seats.
UTM mutha kupita, the earlier the better. Tonse does not mean MCP and UTM. Why don’t we hear mabvuto from other parties especially PP which has got MPs also in the august House? You don’t even have struictures on the ground, break and it will be the end of your party, mark my words.
Most UTM ministers are not MPs as they all failed to make it hence Chilima is now fighting kuti ma ministers asakhale ma MP, hoping kuti nayenso akhala ndi ambiri.
Ndi chifukwa chobalalika mpaka mukufuna nyumba ya Kamuzu, kukhala chipatala ngati ndi yaboma kkkkkkkkk.
Akakuchokerani mudzaliratu inu
Leadership is everything.
Chakwera is the chief liar. Chilima is even worse!
Tinanena kale. Zathu salowa khola. Ndimene ndkudziwila Malawi kukhulupilirana kovuta. Mbatata ikachita mang’a ya chaa.
Zkungofika pa media chochi zatheka hasi
Zayambika.
Pa ground sipalibwino ,nkhanga zaona,muyisova.Cadet ali pheee atolanso chikwama
Paja kunena Kwake timati “Bola DPP inachoka.” Kaya tidzigona.
Koma muvulazana,bad for pa ground cz sipali bwino…zipangani zanuzi zopusa azatola odusa chikwama,people are not fools