UTM Party says it will break its silence on political events in the country after the expiry of the 21-day mourning period for its founder Saulos Chilima and eight others who died in a plane crash.
Political developments since the death of Chilima, who was the country’s vice-president, include leadership of the party, the direction they will take politically and why senior members shunned the swearing-in ceremony of newly-appointed Vice-President Michael Usi in Parliament on Friday. By virtue of being running mate in 2019, Usi assumed the position of party vice-president as per the UTM constitution.
In an interview on Monday, UTM Party spokesperson Felix Njawala said the party was still mourning the passing of its leader and planned to come out on most of the issues being raised after the 21-days of mourning.
He said: “We will speak at an appropriate time, for now, we don’t want too many issues. People are mourning, we are mourning and we don’t want to get entangled in so many issues. We will speak after the mourning period.
“We will speak, let us complete the mourning period, but also a few things that we are doing. We will explain everything to the country.”
But political pundits have urged Usi to pull down barriers and make all efforts to convince UTM Party followers that he is currently their leader.
Under Article 13, the UTM Party constitution is clearer on the role of the VP and what happens in terms of incapacitation of the party leader.
It reads at 13 (3): “In addition to Article 8[2] [b] and Article 13[2] [g], the vice-president shall assist the president and shall, in the case of delegation by, or absence, resignation, incapacity or death of, the President, exercise the powers and functions conferred on the President by this Constitution.”
Commenting on the developments in UTM, University of Malawi associate professor of political science Boniface Dulani predicted a rough journey for the party.
He said this is because few individuals in the party can emulate Chilima or approximate his level of charisma and leadership acumen.
Said Dulani: “As sad and tragic as Chilima’s passing has been, the party will need to move on, and Usi is the most natural leader based on his position in the party.
“Usi has a chance to strengthen the party by leading it into a convention where the leaders can be formally elected and legitimised. The party leadership and supporters can help the cause by rallying around their new leader.”
On his part, political pundit Wonderful Mkutche urged Usi to meet with the executive and reorganise the party based on the sudden turn of political events.
Chilima, alongside eight others, died on June 10 in a military plane crash in Chikangawa Forest in Mzimba.
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