UTM promises to strip off presidential immunity

The UTM launched its manisfesto yesterday in Dowa, with a promise to repeal Section 91 (2) of the Constitution, to strip off immunity for a sitting President.

The party’s president Saulos Chilima reiterated that a sitting President is not supposed to have immunity so that he or she, like any other person, should be tried in court if found on the wrong side of the law while in office.

“We want a nation in which everyone should be happy. We want to end corruption. So, we do not need to protect somebody so that he should be stealing until he comes out of the office,” he said.

The manisfesto, which talks about alleviating poverty among Malawians, also promises voters a good governance system through making key accountability institutions independent of political interference.

Some of the party’s leadership took turns outlining the promises in social sectors such as education, health, agriculture, youth development as well as management of the civil service.

Speaking before Chilima, UTM secretary general Patricia Kaliati said they decided to launch the manisfesto in Dowa because they wanted people to have an access to the content as they are gearing for the tripartite elections on May 21.

The launch took place at the community ground in the district. It also ran parallel to a rally addressed by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) vice-president Sidik Mia in Dowa East Constituency