By Mercy Matonga:
UTM National Executive Committee (Nec) is expected to convene today to make a final decision on the party’s withdrawal from the alliance with the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and others.
Recently, UTM’s Central Executive Committee announced its recommendation to the Nec to sever ties with the Tonse Alliance, formed with MCP in March 2020, under the late party leader and vice president Saulos Chilima.
In an interview Thursday, UTM spokesperson Felix Njawala confirmed that the Nec meeting would take place today in Lilongwe, with Vice President Michael Usi expected to attend.
“He has been formally informed about the meeting,” Njawala said.
He added that while the decision to withdraw from the alliance originated from the Nec, the announcement by the Central Executive Committee was a procedural formality.
“During [Chilima’s] funeral, the Nec met to discuss internal party matters, resulting in the decision to exit the alliance. According to our constitution, the formal announcement must come from the Central Executive Committee,” Njawala said.
Among other agenda items, Njawala indicated that the Nec would discuss the alliance exit decision and the regional demarcation of the party.
Pilirani Phiri, Director of Communications in the Office of the Vice President, was unavailable for comment on Usi’s availability at today’s UTM Nec meeting.
However, according to his office’s schedule, the Vice President will be in Zomba for public engagements alongside President Lazarus Chakwera.
The death of Chilima, who was UTM’s torchbearer in the 2019 presidential election and presumed presidential candidate for 2025, has left what observers see as a significant leadership vacuum in the party.
Under UTM’s constitution, in the event of a presidential vacancy, the vice president assumes leadership until an elective convention is held.
It remains unclear whether Usi participated in the decision to withdraw from the alliance, as he has refrained from publicly discussing internal party matters and his stance on the issue.
Chilima died in a military plane crash in Chikangawa Forest on June 10 2024, with an investigation into the crash currently underway.
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