BY WATIPASO MZUNGU
Vice-President Saulos Chilima Sunday said Malawi’s social, political and economic destiny depends on the calibre of leaders citizens will vote for in the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections.
Chilima made the remarks at Kaggwa Woyera Parish in Lilongwe, where he joined the Catholic faithful in celebrating the life of the parish’s patron saint, Andrea Kaggwa.
“Ndimafuna ndikukumbutseni kuti chaka cha mawa kuli chisankho. Chisankho si mpira umene ena amakhala kumasitandi kumaonerera [Let me remind you that we are going to the polls next year. Elections are not football where others act as spectators who watch the game from the stands. In an election, citizens should register and vote to bring the change they are looking for. Change doesn’t come by itself. You need to bring that change by actively participating in the elections],” Chilima said.
Chilima said next year’s elections offer Malawians a rare opportunity to choose the right people to lead the country.
He said choosing the right person in government is critical to achieving practical and meaningful socio-economic transformation and democratic governance that Malawi has been longing for.
“Chinanso chomwe ndimafuna nditsindike ndi ichi: Kusintha mtundu wa nkhuku sikusosola nthenga [ayi], koma kusintha tambala. Zikomo [I also want to emphasise that one cannot change the breed of their chickens by plucking feathers but by changing the cock. Thank you],” he said as the faithful clapped hands, laughed and ululated.
Chilima also took a swipe at political leaders who use obscene language at public podia, saying use of obscene language has contributed significantly to the proliferation of bad-mouthing among the youth.
Kaggwa Woyera Parish Council Chairperson, Isaac Malipya, asked the faithful to fervently pray for the Veep, saying he needs their prayers to succeed in everything he is doing to serve humankind either in government or in the church.
“Chilima has demonstrated to be a true Catholic by attending almost every activity the church has organised. He is doing God and the church proud. And, in return, we should always remember him in our prayers,” Malipya said.
Chilima, at a press conference organised in Lilongwe this month, announced that he would not contest for any position at the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) elective convention set for July.
He, instead, announced that he would be following due procedures of leaving the party.
The veep hinted that he would be on the ballot paper in next year’s polls but did not make it clear whether he would contest as a presidential candidate.
However, there are growing calls from what is known as the Chilima Movement for the Vice President to contest as presidential candidate in next year’s presidential election.
Former DPP national secretary Richard Makondi, Blantyre East Member of Parliament (MP) Noel Masangwi, Blantyre Misesa Ward Councillor Lewis Ngalande and Mulanje West MP Patricia Kaliati are some of DPP’s influential power brokers who are members of the Chilima Movement.
Leave a Reply