UTM Party has reaffirmed that Vice-President Michael Usi is the party’s leader until an elective convention that will usher in new leadership.
The party’s secretary general Patricia Kaliati said this yesterday at Katoto Secondary School ground in Mzuzu where UTM Party held a memorial rally for former vice-president Saulos Chilima who died last month in a plane crash.
This is the second time Kaliati is affirming Usi’s leadership after saying the same last week in Thyolo when the party welcomed former Reserve Bank of Malawi governor Dalitso Kabambe into its fold.
However, some section of UTM Party supporters yesterday carried placards bearing messages that Usi must leave the party.
But Kaliati said Usi was free to stay in government and that they will meet at the convention.
“Our president remains Dr Michael Usi . But if he wants to remain in government, we shall meet at the convention,” she said amid applause from hundreds of people who gathered at the rally.
In her speech, Kaliati explained that Usi is at liberty to do his national duties but took a swipe at the Veep, hinting that only those present at the rally are the true UTM members.
She further stressed that they exited Tonse Alliance because they wanted to influence change, saying UTM could not grow if it remained in the alliance.
Kaliati also said she has information that over one million underage children have been registered to vote in the 2025 General Election.
She said: “UTM Party manifesto is what placed the current administration in power. But the Malawi Congress Party had already ended the alliance through their public pronouncements.”
Seemingly making reference to Usi, UTM Party publicity secretary Felix Njawala said a good mother does not look on as her children are being preyed on.
Political pundit Wondeful Mkhutche said a section of the party is not convinced with Usi’s leadership.
“Therefore, he will need more claim to retain the leadership. Some UTM supporters think Dr. Usi has tilted towards MCP and is not UTM enough. His fate is around this.
“As it is now, UTM is now divided into camps. Each camp already has its own way and there is no turning back. But the party should make sure the convention happens credibly to settle the leadership question. Whoever wins there, let him lead the party,” he said.
On his part, an expert in elective politics Ernest Thindwa said the UTM Party top hierarchy has neither endorsed Usi as the party’s leader nor approved his appointment as State-Vice President.
“The party needed to have a meeting immediately the mourning period for the late SKC was concluded with the view to chart the way forward. The fact that the party is yet to meet for such purpose reveals the magnitude of the leadership crisis and divisions the party is experiencing.
“The party has been significantly weakened by the demise of the SKC. The least the party can do is to further weaken the party by contesting the status of the leadership position which can only succeed in deepening divisions,” he said.
Faced with some pockets of resistance, Usi said recently that he is the bonafide UTM Party president following the death of his predecessor Chilima in a military plane crash on June 10.
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