The birth of UTM Party was set in motion in April 2018.
It started with former first lady Callista Mutharika, telling a WhatsApp forum for former legislators that the now fallen Vice-President Saulos Chilima would be a better candidate to lead the erstwhile governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections.
The sentiments sent shockwaves considering that Callista was an in-law to DPP president Peter Mutharika. Although the sentiments stirred debate, it was the genesis of intra-party snags. The party gradually became divided with some backing Chilima and others remaining loyal to Mutharika.
In the midst of the political intrigue, some DPP key members started speaking out in favour of Chilima. These included former national director of youth Louis Ngalande, former Mulanje West legislator Patricia Kaliati, former Mulanje South legislator Bon Kalindo and former Blantyre City East legislator Noel Masangwi.
While their position faced resistance, these former DPP ‘rebels’ now went all flat out on the ground mobilising support for Chilima.
All this was happening while Chilima still remained silent.
The VP’s silence troubled Mutharika who sent a three-member delegation to meet him at his official residence in Area 12, Lilongwe to convince him to dismiss the Chilima Movement and make a statement on the divisions that had arisen.
The delegation Mutharika sent included former minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe, former Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Samuel Tembenu and former minister of Education Bright Msaka.
But at this meeting, Chilima dismissed the trio. Later, a meeting between Chilima and Mutharika was organised for the pair to discuss the way forward.
The following June, Chilima addressed the press in Lilongwe where he announced his resignation from the DPP. Later in July, Chilima declared his intention to be on the presidential ballot in the May 2019 elections.
In that month, Chilima launched the United Transformation Movement incorporating members of the Chilima Movement. The launch took place on July 21 at Masintha Ground in Lilongwe where he unveiled a 12-point plan.
Following the launch, some prominent personalities including former Malawi Congress Party (MCP) vice-president Richard Msowoya, businessperson Newton Kambala and comedian-cum-politician Michael Usi joined the party.
But it was not an easy road for the party after the launch as it faced a myriad of challenges. For instance, weeks after the launch, government reviewed Chilima’s security detail, which was later reinstated following a High Court order. Later both parties agreed on an out-of-court settlement.
It never rained, but poured for Chilima as the Registrar of Political Parties in October the same year rebuffed his party’s registration on the basis that the use of the abbreviation was a deliberate scheme to mislead the registrar because there was another registered political party using a similar name.
The registrar was apparently referring to Kambala’s United Transformation Party (UTP).
But on November 2 the same year, High Court Judge John Chirwa ordered the Registrar of Political Parties to register Chilima’s party within seven days and attempts by former Attorney General Charles Mhango to have the registration turned down proved futile as the court found no justification for his appeal.
Finally, Chilima’s UTM Party was registered and subsequently a convention was held on December 17.
Chilima went unopposed at the party’s first convention, making him officially its elected leader.
In the disputed May 2019 Tripartite Elections, Chilima scooped 1 018 369 votes representing 20.24 percent of the cast votes.
He came third.
But in the same month, Chilima took his quest for justice further when he filed an application requesting the High Court in Lilongwe to quash the presidential results. President Lazarus Chakwera, who contested on MCP ticket and finished second, also joined in the court action and after being successful; the court ordered a fresh presidential election.
Chakwera and Chilima paired, ousting Mutharika from power.
