By Isaac Salima:
Some UTM Party members from the Southern Region have reaffirmed their support for party president Michael Usi while others maintain that they are not comfortable with his party leadership.
Usi is the State Vice President after he replaced UTM former leader and State Vice President Saulos Chilima, who died in a Malawi Defence Force plane crash in Chikangawa Forest on June 10 this year.
President Lazarus Chakwera handpicked Usi for the State Vice President role, in line with provisions of the Republican Constitution,
The party members raised the sentiments yesterday during a meeting that regional governor for the Southern Region Steve Mikaya organised in Blantyre.
Mikaya said according to the party’s constitution, Usi is the party’s president until it holds a convention later this year.
“Since the death of Dr [Saulos] Chilima, Dr Usi has been our leader. He will lead the party until the convention [day] and that is what I was clarifying to the people,” Mikaya, who is also the party’s parliamentarian for Blantyre City West, said.
However, his sentiments did not go well with some sections of the party, who claimed that Usi is not committed to the party.
The party’s director of strategy and planning for the Southern Region Fred Yakobe said the meeting itself was suspicious.
“Honourable Mikaya has not been appearing at party activities lately. He told us that he is going to contest for a parliamentary seat in Kasungu.
“As such, we are surprised that he is coming to address us today. By the way, where has he gotten the money for the event because we were told that the party had no money?” Yakobe said.
But Mikaya said it was normal for a group of people to differ in opinion.
He further said the meeting was aimed at discussing how the party would move forward after demarcating the region.
“Since the death of our leader, we were yet to meet. As such, this gave us an opportunity to discuss some family matters,” Mikaya said.
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