Malawi ready for change—Chilima
Vice-President Saulos Chilima, who is in the United Kingdom (UK) on holiday, says Malawi is at a juncture for change and ready to act beyond tribalism and regionalism.
The VP, who travelled to the UK on Sunday and is expected back on October 21, was speaking at the Royal Institute of International Affairs at Chatham House in London on Wednesday.
In his speech, themed How To Generate Political Will: To Influence Change in a Complex Democracy,, and made available to The Nation, Chilima said since the launch of the United Transformation Movement (UTM) for which he is the torch-bearer for the 2019 Tripartite Elections, the movement has established that the country is “ripe for change”.
He said: “The public must be empowered by raising its esteem that they are masters and those holding positions are their servants… The public must be provided with a credible and viable political alternative during voting.”
The Veep noted that in societies marred with regionalism, tribalism, nepotism and corruption, it is not easy to influence change as the public perception is rarely homogenous.
Chatham House is the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London which analyses and promotes understanding of international issues affairs. President Peter Mutharika, his predecessors Joyce Banda and the late Bingu wa Mutharika have previously addressed the house.
Earlier, social media reports suggested that Chilima would deliver a keynote address at an event where Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga would receive the African Peace Award following their peace accord handshake which ended political hostility after Kenya’s 2017 election.
However, Office of the Vice-President spokesperson Pilirani Phiri later clarified that the Vice-President would not deliver a keynote address.opments in
On Monday, former First Minister Jack McConnell also hailed Chilima for what he described as a strong analysis of development in Malawi.
He tweeted: “Very strong analysis of current developments in Malawi from VP Chilima in London today”.
McConell, who is life peer in Britain’s House of Lords, made his comments in the twit after meeting Chilima in London on Monday.
