By Isaac Salima & Feston Malekezo:
UTM president Michael Usi has failed to come clear on whether UTM is still part of the Tonse Alliance.
Recently, some UTM senior officials announced that the party had left the alliance.
The development followed the death of party leader-cum-former State Vice President Saulos Chilima.
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Speaking in ‘Times Exclusive’ on Times Television on Saturday, Usi did not come out clear on the issue, only saying that people will see what will happen in the near future.
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“If you had asked me that [whether UTM is in the alliance or not] few days ago, I could have answered you. But now I just had a meeting with some officials; so, I will not do justice to reveal what we agreed,” Usi said.
He further said that he called for a meeting with the party secretary general (SG) Patricia Kaliati.
“I have the guidelines on [the] alliance and I read it properly. I understand all provisions and how a party can exit the alliance. I heard what they said [that UTM is out of the alliance] and I called them and I should not be here responding to what they said. Those who claim to have existed the alliance, I am their leader; and those who claim to have remained in the alliance, I am also their leader. My duty, as their leader, is to unite them all,” Usi said.
And, speaking in Mzuzu City Sunday, UTM SG Kaliati said the party’s president remains Usi.
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Kaliati, who was speaking during UTM’s first mega political rally since the demise of Chilima on June 10 2024, said it would be up to Usi to decide which political side he would take.
“Iwowo [a Michael Usi] ndi a president a UTM. Ziri kwa iwo kukhala ku UTM kapena kupanga za ku bomako koma tikaonana ku convention [Michael Usi is our president but it is up to him to choose where he would want to be but we shall meet at our convention]. Let’s stop fighting; let us be one UTM family,” she said.
At the rally, some supporters carried banners carrying messages such as “Usi, leave UTM alone”, which Kaliati denounced.
“For the sake of unity and love in the party, let us put down the banners,” Kaliati said.
Then Kaliati claimed that it is through the UTM manifesto that many Malawians voted for the Tonse Alliance.
Among other things, she mentioned the one-week duty free week, free water and electricity connection and mega farms as some of the campaign promises.
She then asked for patience from supporters as the party has activated a mobilisation drive ahead of the 2025 elections.
In his remarks, UTM publicity secretary Felix Njawala said Chilima was a source of knowledge and creativity.
“SKC [Saulos Klaus Chilima] is a seed which has been planted and it will germinate and spread,” he said.
Njawala stressed that UTM would have a presidential candidate in the 2025 elections but declined to comment on whether the party would go solo.
Speaking at the same rally, UTM director of youth Penjani Kalua encouraged every eligible youth to register and get a national identity card for them to be able to vote.
The rally was attended by other senior members including Newton Kambala, UTM lawmakers and new catch Dalitso Kabambe, who defected the from Democratic Progressive Party.
