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Chakwera, Chilima Officially Pair to July 2 Fresh Presidential Poll

Chakwera, Chilima Officially Pair to July 2 Fresh Presidential Poll

Malawi Congress Party President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera today unveiled UTM president Dr. Saulos Chilima as his running-mate in the July 2 fresh presidential election.

The first to present his nomination papers to the Malawi Electoral Commission today, Chakwera made assurance of a presidency that respected the rule of law and did not undermine the existence of the office of the vice president, an apparent public assurance to Chilima of equal value leadership should their pair win the election.

“For 26 years, Malawi’s Vice-Presidents have been mistreated, underutilized, harassed, and slandered, but God has given us Dr. Chilima, whose courage has confronted this disease and answered the call to cure it on behalf of all Malawians. That is destiny,” Chakwera told the sizeable audience in the Mount Soche Hotel hall in Blantyre.

Chakwera said the destiny of the political partnership of nine political parties; MCP, UTM, PP, Aford, Petra, Umodzi, Mafunde, Freedom Party and PPM, is one that has survived six years of broken promises from President Peter Mutharika “who has failed to govern.

“It is a destiny that has survived the acrimony of the 2019 campaign and the robbery of the 2019 elections. It is a destiny that has survived the lawlessness of this Malawi Electoral Commission.

“It is a destiny that has survived a year of civil unrest and violence. It is a destiny that has survived twelve months of court battles. It is a destiny that has survived attempts to bribe judges and pervert justice.

“It is a destiny that has survived petrol bombs, teargas, and arbitrary arrests. It is a destiny that has survived a pandemic threat and the abuse of public offices and resources in the middle of it,” he said to a loud applause.

Chakwera said the alliance he leads has a date with this destiny and believes that while “many dark forces have labored to prevent” coming the election, “no force can stop the change God has decreed for us”.

The MCP candidate attacked the plunder of Malawi’s wealth, paralysis of institutions and poverty that citizens have been in in the 26 years under the Bakili Muluzi and Mutharika “a toxic dynasty of two families” which the alliance would turn around.

He said democracy in Malawi has been hijacked “cheats” clinging to power through fraudulent elections, violent campaigns, tribal voting, and minority rule.

“…but God has given us this fresh election to restore every voter’s power to bring change and every voter’s right to enjoy its fruits.

“For 26 years, Malawi’s political parties and leaders have forged enmities and their followers have had disputes so bitter that it has become impossible to find common ground, but God has given us this Tonse Alliance of nine parties to tear down the walls that divide us and build the bridges needed to unite us,” Chakwera said.

Chakwera told the MEC that what binds the political partners is the dream for a new Malawi and that “what has brought me and Saulos together”, was service to the country.

“Together,” he said “… let us reach our destiny by casting and protecting every vote on July 2, so that on July 6th, we can mark the start of our 3rd Independence by inaugurating the Chakwera-Chilima presidency.”.

In her remarks, MEC chairperson Dr. Jane Ansah pledged to ensure that her commission manages the election according to dictations of the law cautioning Chakwera though that “no one goes into an election expecting to lose” but fully aware that only one person would emerge a winner in the same contest.

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Last modified on Wednesday, 06/05/2020

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