Vice-President Michael Usi yesterday submitted his presidential nomination papers for the September 16 General Election, effectively joining the race to face President Lazarus Chakwera at the ballot.
This will be the second time a serving Vice-President will be challenging his boss in an election after fallen Vice-President Saulos Chilima did the same against Peter Mutharika in the court-annulled 2019 presidential election.
However, unlike in the Chilima case where the relationship between the President and Vice-President had soured, Usi has a rosy partnership with Chakwera who is set to submit his nomination papers today.
Representing his Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu Party, Usi, who named Grace Nazitwere as his running mate, told journalists that Chakwera rose to the presidency partly because of people like himself and Chilima who formed the now disintegrated Tonse Alliance.
He said he is now contesting against the administration because they hold different ideologies and look at things differently.
Said Usi: “I am not a member of MCP. I am not challenging him [Chakwera], I am competing with him. If I was contesting as a member of MCP then that could have been a challenge, but I belong to Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu.”
On whether he would consider being Chakwera’s running mate, he acknowledged that many in the MCP might have wanted him in that role but pointed out that such discussions never happened.
Usi stressed that his ultimate goal is serving Malawians, a mission he is ready to continue even without winning the presidency.
The Vice-President will compete against 19 other candidates, including Chakwera.
Speaking after submitting his papers, Usi paid tribute to Chilima, who tragically died in a military plane crash on June 10 last year alongside eight others.
He hailed the fallen Veep, who had picked him as his running mate on the maiden UTM presidential ticket in 2019, for introducing him to active politics and also thanked Chakwera for appointing him VP and Minister of State.
Usi cited lack of order in government as one of the factors hindering the country’s development.
He lamented interference from influential politicians who give improper instructions to senior professional civil servants. This interference, he said, includes directing who should be awarded contracts.
Said Usi: “That is why today there is a lot of murmuring when people are being promoted because it is not orderly. Even when it is time to distribute fertiliser, it is a mess, because there are some people who are not supposed to play such roles who are giving instructions on who should receive or not.
“If only things were done orderly in this country, the country could have developed. What is lacking is [doing] things right.”
He also stressed the importance of accepting election results, since only one person would be declared winner and urged all candidates to be prepared to concede defeat.
“The losers should also start preparing for Plan B instead of planning to start disruptions. It is only God who appoints and anoints leaders,” said Usi.
Meanwhile, political analyst Mavuto Bamusi has said Usi’s candidacy will split votes in Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) strongholds, particularly affecting Mutharika and to the advantage of Chakwera.
Another analyst Gift Sambo said Usi is one of the few politicians with vast experience.
He said: “He is currently the Vice-President of the country. This gives him the confidence to compete at the presidential level. In addition, his candidature is backed by a political organisation with credible membership.”
However, Sambo said it is difficult to link Usi’s candidature with the outcome of the recent Ipor survey on voter preferences.
On his part, another analyst George Chaima said: “I think Michael Usi is one intelligent person. He seems to be fully knowledgeable of what he knows from inside government and out. He seems to know the strengths and weaknesses of his boss, and he must have also known the weak areas of MCP leadership.”
Usi touted his record in government, citing his intervention to revive the stalled Nasolo Bridge Project in Ndirande Township, Blantyre.
He said donors withdrew due to frustrations with officials attempting to corruptly implement the project for kickbacks.
The Veep also recalled demanding a review of all mining licences in the country after identifying many suspicious contracts he felt could not have benefitted Malawians.
Other candidates who also presented their nomination papers included president of Patriotic Citizens Party (PCP) Jordan Sauti, David Mbewe of Liberation for Economic Freedom Party and independent candidate Thoko Manyika Banda.
Today is the final day of presenting nomination papers. According to MEC schedule, independent candidate Smart Swira will present at 9am followed by President Chakwera at 1.30pm.
