By Mercy Matonga:
On Thursday, UTM and United Democratic Front issued a statement claiming a fallout between President Peter Mutharika and his Vice President Jane Ansah.
If it were to be true, it would be a repeat of history. There has been friction in the two top offices in the past.
Currently though, there is no such rift between Mutharika and his second in command, according to Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Justin Saidi.
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In an interview with Malawi News Friday, Saidi said the two maintain a good working relationship.
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“We are just wondering where all this is coming from. These two sit together in Cabinet meetings,” Saidi said.
Those reporting a rift have cited reduced funding to the office of the Vice President as one of the telltale signs of the friction between them. But Saidi has dismissed this too.
Early in her tenure, Ansah was heading the public sector reforms programme and the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma), roles which have since been relocated to the Office of President and Cabinet.
“The funding was reduced as some reforms are no longer under that office [of the Vice President,” said Saidi.
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Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Minister of Homeland Security Peter Mukhito also trashed claims that the government has withdrawn security personnel from the Office of the Vice President.
According to him, the security detail remains intact despite recent transfers.
“Transfers are normal in the police service. The office already has proposed names to be posted back,” he said.
In their statements on Thursday, UTM and UDF claimed that Ansah’s office is being victimised and not being accorded the authority it deserves.
UTM alleged that that VP’s office is being systematically mistreated through underfunding, withdrawal of security, and public humiliation.
In a statement signed by the party’s Secretary General Willet Karonga, UTM said the development has created confusion in the executive branch of government and could affect delivery of government business.
UTM even claimed that Ansah was allegedly recently prevented from performing her constitutional duty of seeing off Mutharika at the airport before his private trip.
“The Office of the Vice President is not ceremonial; it is a constitutional institution designed to provide leadership, coordination and stability.
“When it is deliberately undermined or rendered ineffective, it is not only a political issue, it is a direct misuse of public resources,” reads part of the statement.
It said denying the Veep office funding and security is not just a political inconvenience.
“It constitutes a direct violation of the Constitution,” the statement adds.
Analyst George Chaima said any breakdown in cooperation between a President and Vice President poses serious governance risks.
“Such a breakdown paralyses policy direction and weakens the constitutional framework that binds them together,” said Chaima.
He said whether the allegations of breakdown of relations between them are true or false, the fact is that Malawi continues to struggle with leaders placing personal interests ahead of public duty.
“This is a disease spread across both the political and civic domains,” he said.
In a separate response, political analyst Ernest Thindwa said tensions between presidents and their deputies have been a recurring feature in Malawi’s politics landscape.
“It is now almost a political norm. This reflects weak institutionalisation and fuels undemocratic competition,” said Thindwa.
He said if the Vice President were to be stripped of constitutionally mandated powers, that would amount to a direct challenge to constitutional order.
“Individually and collectively, we must demonstrate commitment to constitutionalism if our political processes are to deliver meaningful development outcomes,” he said.
Boniface Chibwana of the Centre for Multiparty Democracy said if the office of Vice President is not functional, it is the general population that suffers as some operational duties cannot be executed.
Malawi’s political history has repeatedly shown strained relationships between presidents and their deputies.
Between 1994 and 2004, Justin Malewezi who served two terms as Vice President did have uncomfortable relations with the then- President Bakili Muluzi, especially towards the end of their last term in office.
There was also a turbulent relationship between Bingu wa Mutharika and Vice President Cassim Chilumpha and then Joyce Banda.
Peter Mutharika and Saulos Chilima started off on a good note in 2014 but relations between them strained around 2018, with Chilima leaving the DPP to form the UTM and contesting the 2019 elections.
In a presidential rerun in June 2020, Chilima was running mate to Lazarus Chakwera but they too went on a collision course.
