Former Reserve Bank of Malawi governor Dalitso Kabambe yesterday stepped into the shoes left by fallen UTM Party founding president Saulos Chilima with a resounding victory over his three challengers, including two of the pioneers.
It was a perfect 51st birthday present for Kabambe who amassed a whopping 636 votes against 26 for Engineer Newton Kambala, 22 for corporate executive and Engineer Matthews Mtumbuka and 21 for former secretary general Patricia Kaliati during the UTM Party national delegates conference in Luwinga, Mzuzu. There were 722 votes cast in the presidential race.
When elections chairperson Maynard Nyirenda announced the results as certified by audit and business advisory firm Crowe Howarth Malawi, the instant reaction of Kaliati, Mtumbuka and Kambala was one of disbelief. It appeared as though Nyirenda was joking, but it was real.
Jubilant delegates flocked to mob Kabambe while Mtumbuka, Kambala and Kaliat left the Chisanga Complex Hall immediately after congratulating the new party president.
In his acceptance speech, Kabambe thanked the delegates and the outgoing National Executive Committee (NEC) for organising the conference despite the difficult situation the party faced after the death of Chilima in a military plane crash on June 10 2024.
Said the soft spoken economist: “As UTM, we faced challenges because our towering figure had departed, so the squabbles were expected. Let me thank honourable Kaliati who stood firm during this difficult period. Without her, this party would have been long gone.
“Let me also thank my competitors, it wasn’t an easy contest! I never thought I would win this way! We will make sure that every talent in the party is used for the betterment of the party.”
Kabambe challenged all winners at the convention to get down to work by mobilising people to register and vote next year, promising to mount a serious campaign.
He said: “Pioneers of UTM wanted to deal with nepotism, they wanted a united movement. They also wanted to deal with corruption, and that is why the late Chilima in all his speeches talked about this vice.”
Mtumbuka and Kambala said they will not comment, but Kaliati, in a brief interview, promised to remain with UTM and help the new leadership.
“I am happy and I congratulate the winner, and we will work together to make the party very strong,” she said.
In the race for secretary general, Willet Kalonga defeated Joseph Chidanti Malunga by 352 to 337 votes while Alexander Bulilani is now the party’s deputy president, as per the amended constitution, after defeating founding member Noel Masangwi by 495 against 208 votes.
On the other hand, there was no competition for the newly created positions of regional vice-presidents, making sole nominees go unopposed. They are Catherine Mzumara for the North, Richard Makondi for the South, Hellen Zalira Chabunya for the Centre and Symon Salambula for Eastern Region.
In an interview, Kalonga stressed the need to unite the party, saying they will work to to bring everyone along for the party to triumph in next year’s elections.
Felix Njawala retained his position as national publicity secretary as did Fredo Penjani Kalua as director of youth after defeating two other contestants.
In the run up to the convention, the country’s Vice-President Michael Usi, who became the party’s president in line with its constitution after Chilima’s demise, withdrew from the presidential race by not submitting his nomination papers citing gross violation of the party’s constitution by the NEC.
Usi, who was picked by Chilima as his running mate in the disputed 2019 Presidential Election, accused NEC members of flouting the party’s constitution. However, the party proceeded with the conference after a meeting chaired by Usi.
