Vice-President Michael Usi yesterday launched his Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu political party, but kept a tight lid on whether he will be on the presidential ballot in the September 16 General Election.
Speaking during the launch rally at Masintha Ground in Lilongwe, he declared that Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu is now a political party and stated that time will come when people will know more about its status.
Said Usi: “Let God be God. One thing about me is that I don’t cry for positions. When going into an alliance it should not be about fighting to be the torch bearer. An alliance should be about having similar ideologies.”
He further said the party will soon unveil its manifesto and reveal how many of the party members registered to vote.
Usi’s Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu, then a movement, went into oblivion in February 2019 after Vice-President Saulos Chilima picked him as his running mate in the nullified presidential election.
The revivavl of the movement and subsequent transition into a political party comes months after Usi chickened out of the UTM Party presidential race last November while serving as president, having replaced Chilima who died in a military plane crash last June.
During the rally, Usi alleged that UTM Party was planning candlelight memorials for Chilima, but targeting President Lazarus Chakwera and himself.
He further claimed that he was aware that some sections were linking him to Chilima’s death but he has decided not to respond because God knows everything.
“God knows everything no matter the propaganda that others put forward,” said Usi.
He mentioned UTM Party founding member Engineer Newton Kambala and operations director Khwesi Msusa as the only people in UTM who stood by Chilima. He did not elaborate.
Taking to the podium, Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu secretary general Happy Kondowe said the goal of the party is to empower Malawians economically so that they are independent.
“We want Malawians to engage in commercial farming so that they are able to support themselves,” he said.
