Analysts weigh in on Chilima’s political future

Vice-President (VP) Saulos Chilima’s arrest on corruption allegations adds to a pile of hurdles facing his presidential bid and analysts claim it has dented his political image.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Chilima nine days ago for allegedly receiving a $280 000 (about K290 million) bribe from United Kingdom based businessperson Zuneth Sattar.

Chilima, who was released on bail on the same day, is accused of collecting money and gifts to help Sattar-connected companies secure multi-billion kwacha contracts with Malawi Police Service and Malawi Defence Force.

In a telephone interview, Mzuzu University political science lecturer Chrispin Mphande said although Chilima is innocent until proven guilty, his arrest has damaged his presidential ambitions.

He added that it will take the courts to clear him if he is to survive in the political game.

Mphande further advised UTM, the party Chilima leads, to appoint a caretaker president as the Vice-President focuses on battling the six court charges.

When asked on the proposal to replace Chilima in the meantime, UTM secretary general Patricia Kaliati dismissed it.

“You think this is a question I can answer?” she said, before cutting the line.

The other challenge is the uncertainty surrounding his push to represent the Tonse Alliance in the 2025 elections which he claims was part of the agreement that founded the alliance.

MCP, which leads the alliance, dismissed the claim, leading analysts to forecast a succession battle in the grouping of nine parties.

In an interview, Tonse Alliance spokesperson Kamuzu Chibambo said the party leaders are yet to discuss Chilima’s arrest.

He refused to comment further.

On his part, political analyst Humphrey Mvula said although he is still innocent, the charges have destroyed his political aspirations and those of his followers.

He said: “The challenge that [Chilima] has now is to manoeuvre to deal with his angry supporters who will keep getting angrier by the day.

“We are also going to witness a change of allegiance by party loyalists because their dream of having a president is now fading.

“Politically the Vice-President is in a very difficult position.”

Another political analyst Ernest Thindwa said regardless of the outcome of his case, Chilima’s image will remain dented.

He said: “While he should be presumed innocent until proven guilty, his public and political brands have been, to say the least, dented.”

President Lazarus Chakwera in June this year suspended the VP’s delegated powers after he was named on ACB’s list of 53 public officers linked to alleged corrupt dealings with Sattar.

Meanwhile, Thindwa has stated that the suspension, which is expected to stand until the court case, will further weaken Chilima and his party.

“The withholding of delegated powers has denied him an opportunity for public prominence, critical for political marketing.

“The double-edged tragedy for the VP is that it will be an uphill task to claim credit for any Tonse Alliance success given the passivity mode he has been compelled to engage in yet he will be burdened with collective responsibility for any alliance shortcomings or failure to deliver on electoral pledges,” Thindwa, former University of Malawi political science lecturer, said.

Chilima’s arrest followed joint investigations between Britain’s National Crime Agency and the ACB.

The VP faces three counts of corrupt practices by a public officer contrary to Section 24(1) of the Corrupt Practices Act, two counts of receiving advantage for using influence in regard to contracts contrary to Section 29 (1) (b) of the Corrupt Practices Act.

The sixth count is failing to make a full report to a police officer or an officer of the ACB that an advantage had been corruptly given contrary to Section 36 (1) of the Corrupt Practices Act.

Days after Chakwera linked Chilima to Sattar dealings, the Veep hit back thinly, claiming that his implication was political and advised the ACB not to be used to dislodge him.

In his address to the nation delivered on July 1 2022, Chilima declared that he will be the 2025 Tonse Alliance presidential candidate in keeping with the pact he and Chakwera signed prior to the June 2020 court-sanctioned fresh presidential election.

According to Chilima, the political agreement was for 10 years, in which both Chakwera and himself are expected to support each other to lead for one-term.