Build on new VP’s tone

Malawi is in 21 days of mourning for Vice-President Saulos Klaus Chilima and eight others who died in a plane crash at Nthungwa in the Viphya Plantation on June 10. 

May I express my condolences to President Lazarus Chakwera, the Chilima family, all the families that lost their loved ones and all Malawians.  May the souls of the deceased rest in peace.

As we mourned, the law required President Chakwera to appoint Chilima’s successor within seven days. 

This he did on June 20 2024, when he named Michael Usi as Malawi’s new Vice-President.

The newly appointed VP was sworn in on Friday, June 21 2024, at the Parliament of Malawi in Lilongwe.

During the ceremony, the comedian-turned-politician punctuated his acceptance speech with scriptures as if he were a preacher, not an actor. 

This is not the first time for him to use scriptures in his speech and comedies. 

Among others, Usi stated that he and the President did not fear losing elections in September 2025, but they feared being thrown into the hellfire, 

He added that God whispered to Chakwera to take him as the Vice-President of Malawi.

Usi alluded to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and two thugs on Gologotha, the Hill of Skulls.

In his narrative, the words each of the three ‘criminals’ spoke determined whether the speaker went to eternal life or hellfire. 

Through the analogy, he warned unnamed people against speaking recklessly.

Looking at the trends in his acting scenes and inaugural speech, it is safe to conclude that Usi is speaking out of the abundance of the heart. A famous saying goes: “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks”. 

Good people have good things saved in their hearts and that is why they say only good things.

Consistent bad words and deeds are indicative of a treacherous mind.

Surely, what people say is never random, but an overflow of their thoughts, emotions and beliefs. 

The Bible also mentions this philosophy in the Sermon on the Plain (Matthew 12:23). 

Usi has set the scene and tone for his tenure as the Vice-President.

Now Malawians expect him to walk the talk not as an actor or comedian, but the potential successor of the President. 

Usi has given a big lesson for the Chakwera leadership.

The President and his administration should learn not to hide his personality as a reverend.  

When Malawians elected Chakwera, they knew that they were voting a pastor.

As such, they had high hopes that the man of God would not betray them or break the promises he made on the political podium.  Unfortunately, Chakwera chose to hide the trusted reverend personality when speaking, making decisions and taking action.

Correspondingly, the nation seldom uses the “reverend” tag when addressing or saluting him.

Yet the President knows pretty well that he was a prominent pastor when God called him to be the President of the Republic of Malawi.

Sticking to the revered tag of the reverend will keep him reminded to be a good shepherd of his flock and do no evil.

Sadly, he is facing hurdles to take Malawi to the promised Canaan, clearing the rubble of corruption and mending the broken systems in public service. 

Despite the glowing promises and speeches, the country is not where it was supposed to be had Chakwera stuck to his promised blueprint and reforms. 

My humble advice is that instead of copying the ways of people who do not fear God, the President should return to his blueprint. 

He should learn from the new Vice-President, who never abandoned his acting career throughout his four years as a Cabinet minister. 

Since he shot to fame, Usi has not hidden his personality, talents and beliefs.

He is a God-fearing actor and comedian. 

It is time to build on the new Vice-President’s inaugural speech and strengths to deliver a better Malawi for all.