UTM top brass meet Usi,tight-lipped on outcome

UTM Party central committee has kept a tight lid on proceedings of a meeting it held with the party’s leader Michael Usi who is also the country’s Vice-President.

Party officials were coy to share details of the meeting which comes at a time Usi’s leadership is seemingly contested.

But insiders said the meeting at the Vice-President’s official residence in Area 12, Lilongwe was about mending fences and having the party walk with one voice ahead of the 2025 General Elections.

In an earlier interview yesterday ahead of the meeting, the party’s spokesperson Felix Njawala said “we will discuss many issues concerning the party”.

He said the party usually meets to discuss matters.

A well-placed source said Usi was trying to unite UTM and possibly take it back to the governing Tonse Alliance.

The informant also said Usi was also garnering support to compete at UTM’s convention.

Njawala did not pick calls to provide an update while party secretary general Patricia Kaliati said she did not attend.

“Inuyo mukufunsa ndinu a UTM? Mufunseni Njawala [Why are you interested in the meeting? Are you a member of UTM? Ask Njawala],” said Kaliati who refused to state whether she was invited or not.

In an earlier interview on Monday, Njawala said UTM maintains its exit from the alliance.

Following the death of former Vice-President and UTM president Saulos Chilima in a June 10 plane crash, there has been tension in the rank and file of over leadership with some sections not recognising Usi who was the party’s silent vice-president.

Usi, whom Chilima had picked as running mate in the disputed 2019 presidential election, faces a daunting task to unite the party and bring it to his side as he works with President Lazarus Chakwera in his capacity as Vice-President and win the leadership.

In an interview yesterday, University of Malawi based political scientist Gift Sambo said  while Usi has desirable leadership qualities, his first test is to claim legitimacy in UTM for he does not command substantial loyalty from the party, especially for replacing Chilima who was, in all senses, a political giant.

He said: “I think the approach he has taken is the right one. He has to put more effort to engage the party and claim legitimacy and acceptance. He needs to present himself as a capable leader ahead of the convention”.

Sambo said Usi finds himself in a tricky situation to be Vice- President to a leader of a rival party and must work towards bringing UTM back in the alliance to his advantage and that of the party.

He said UTM is better with Malawi Congress Party for its incumbency factor.

After all, said Sambo, even if UTM were to partner with a strong opposition party such as Democratic Progressive Party  in an election, it is likely to play second fiddle for lack of structures and numerical advantage.