UTM Party president Dalitso Kabambe presented his nomination papers for the September 16 presidential elections Sunday, revealing that Matthews Mtumbuka, a member of his party, would be his running mate.
Mtumbuka, a PhD engineer, is the founder and managing director of Weagle Holdings Ltd, a company involved in energy, information technology, management consulting and retail.
He has also held key positions, including founding managing director of Helios Towers Malawi and UbuntuNet Alliance for Research and Education, and director of information and communication technology for Airtel Malawi and Airtel Rwanda.
In November last year, Mtumbuka contested Kabambe for the UTM presidency but was defeated during the party’s convention.
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Some observers view his appointment as Kabambe’s running mate as a sign that the party is united and consolidating ahead of the elections.
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Building on the legacy of UTM’s founding leader, the late Saulos Chilima, who presented his nomination papers in 2019 while riding a tractor, Kabambe arrived at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe in an excavator emblazoned with the words Tabwera kudzagwira ntchito (We are here to work).
Speaking while presenting his nomination papers, Kabambe promised that UTM would overhaul Malawi’s economic system.
He said that, despite the country’s natural resources and hardworking population, Malawi remains one of the poorest nations globally.
Having worked for 25 years in the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Reserve Bank of Malawi, among others, Kabambe identified three key issues plaguing the country namely, corruption among politicians, nepotism and incompetence among leaders.
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“Once and for all, nepotism, tribalism and corruption will be history in this country. We aim to bring in a government that will transform agriculture, mining, tourism, education, health, finance and manufacturing,” he said.
Kabambe added that Malawi would begin the process of self-sufficiency, producing enough to process and export.
“A new dawn for Malawi is on the horizon,” he declared.
Commenting on Kabambe’s choice, social and political commentator Frederick Phiri said “there is a lot to unpack in the pairing.”
Phiri pointed out that many expected a fallout after the convention, but the leadership quickly united.
“Think about it. Mtumbuka, instead of sulking or holding grudges, has chosen to join forces with Kabambe. That decision speaks volumes.
“It is not about defeat; it is about understanding that the bigger picture requires collaboration,” he said.
Phiri further suggested that Mtumbuka’s acceptance indicated he was more focused on the party’s long-term success than his own ego.
“This partnership, in many ways, signals that the party is moving away from a culture of division and power struggles. It is a breath of fresh air, honestly.
“There is now an understanding that the party’s success comes from a unified vision, not from any single person,” he added.
Later Sunday afternoon, Akwame Bandawe of the Anyamata, Atsikana, Azimayi Party also presented his nomination papers, naming Asiyatu Abuli as his running mate.
However, the Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) rejected independent candidate Reverend Hardwick Kaliya’s papers due to issues with the documentation for his running mate. Mec has advised Kaliya to rectify the issues by July 30.
Kaliya is not alone in facing setbacks. Daniel Dube, leader of the National Patriotic Party, also encountered difficulties as Mec rejected his nomination papers for incomplete documentation, among other reasons.
Mec has stressed the importance of adhering to legal and procedural standards.
Chairperson Justice Anabel Mtalimanja reiterated that all candidates must meet the same requirements.
Dube, like Kaliya, has until July 30 to correct the documentation or risk exclusion from the list of presidential candidates.
Mtalimanja also urged all candidates to promote peace in their campaign messages.
According to Mtalimanja, Malawians are eager to hear how candidates plan to develop the country in line with Malawi 2063, the national long-term development plan.
Of the so-called major candidates, only President Lazarus Chakwera of governing Malawi Congress Party has yet to submit his papers. He is scheduled to do so on the last day, July 30.
Political analysts have expressed concern over the likelihood of any single candidate securing the required 50 percent plus one vote to win outright, which raises the possibility of a runoff election given the large number of parties and independent candidates in the race.
