Samuel Kalimira & Rebecca Chimjeka:
Tonse Alliance, whose representatives joined forces with Malawi Congress Party (MCP)’s Lazarus Chakwera in the court-ordered June 23 2020 presidential election, says it expects the President to appoint anyone from UTM to replace Saulos Chilima as State Vice President (VP).
Alliance spokesperson George Mnesa said this would help foster unity among the six political parties that are part of the alliance.
Mnesa told The Daily Times that the agreement was between MCP’s Chakwera and Chilima, hence appointing a UTM member as VP would serve as a mark of respect to the departed Chilima.
Mnesa said he has hope that all leaders in Tonse Alliance would support the idea, considering that UTM was already given the position of VP.
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“Remember, the agreement was between the two parties and we only supported them. But if he feels like no to UTM, then he must look into the alliance [for a VP],” Mnesa said.
He then said Chakwera has a final say on the matter, as it is his prerogative to appoint the Vice President of the country following the circumstances.
Recently, political analysts George Phiri and Chimwemwe Tsitsi said the person earmarked for the VP role should be someone who can win the trust of the majority of Malawians.
According to the Malawi Law supposed to appoint his vice by Wednesday, June 19. Society (MLS), Chakwera is
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In 2012, former president Joyce Banda appointed Khumbo Kachali as vice from her People’s Party.
This happened after the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika.
Meanwhile, Chakwera is facing a daunting task to appoint a new VP.
MLS President Patrick Mpaka said the President has no later than 19th June to make the appointment, in tandem with the law.
“Following the tragic death of Dr Chilima while serving in office as Vice President and considering that the deceased and the incumbent President took oath of office on 28th June 2020 in terms of Section 83 of the Constitution, the Malawi Law Society advises the general public that under Section 84 and 88 of the Constitution, as read with Section 45 of the General Interpretation Act, President Lazarus Chakwera is required to appoint a replacement Vice President within seven days after the death of the Vice President and in computing the seven-day period from the date of death to exclude any Sunday or public holiday. As such, it is expected that by and not later than 19th June 2024, the President should have appointed a person to replace the late Chilima in the constitutional office of a Vice President,” Mpaka said.
Law expert from the University of Malawi Garton Kamchedzera has also asked Chakwera to respect the supreme law of the land.
“Section 84, as amended in 2020, puts a duty on the President to fill the vacancy in the office of the Vice President within seven days.
“The rule of law requires the President to comply with such a requirement. Principles of constitutionalism abhor vacuums of power, no matter how inconvenient making a certain decision may appear to certain people,” he said.
According to Kamchedzera, even though, culturally, it could be too early to do that, the Constitution does not allow that.
And, briefing reporters in Lilongwe Tuesday evening, Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu said the President is aware of the law that requires him to appoint his vice, as stipulated by the Constitution of Malawi.
“I cannot specify when the appointment will be made, but I am assured that it will happen within the recommended time,” Kunkuyu said.
Meanwhile, other analysts have said the President has a daunting task to make the appointment as his decision will define his leadership style.
Political analyst and good governance expert Wonder Mkutche said the President has a huge decision to make and the decision will define his character and legacy.
“It will be hard to replace Dr Chilima, but the President should go for someone who is hard working and visionary. If he is choosing within MCP or UTM, it should be someone who can consolidate the alliance as well as contribute to the running of the government,” Mkutche said.
According to Mkutche, if the President chooses from outside the parties, it has to be someone who can fit well inside the political circles as well as effectively help the President in implementing the manifesto that swayed voters in the 2020 presidential election.
On his part, Human Rights Defenders Coalition Chairperson Gift Trapence said they hope that the President would appoint someone with integrity.
Trapence added that the individual should have a vision and clear sense of direction so that he or she can help Chakwera address problems that Malawians are facing.
“The President should appoint someone who is action oriented; someone who understands the aspirations of Malawians and someone who is intelligent to be able to tell the President the truth when something goes wrong.
“We want someone who is a peace builder and is able to put Malawi first other than political ambitions; someone who will be able to show that he or she is a true leader who can make timely decisions; someone who understands the pain and socio-economic challenges that Malawians are going through and, lastly, someone who will bring hope to Malawians,” Trapence said.
