BLANTYRE-(Maravipost)—Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President Lazarus Chakwera has unveiled UTM leader Saukos Klaus Chilima as his running mate in the forthcoming fresh presidential election slated for July 2, 2020.
Chakwera unveiled his running mate today Wednesday when he presented his nomination papers to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to contest as presidential candidate for the MCP-UTM alliance in the July 2 elections at the Mount Soche Hotel.
Speaking after presenting the papers to MEC, Chakwera described Chilima as a partner in building a better Malawi for all, and also a man of integrity who could help run government affairs in the next five years once given a mandate for the leadership mantle.
“Fellow citizens, we gather today as one nation because we have a date with destiny. As you know, many dark forces have labored to prevent this election, but they have failed because no force on earth can stop the change that god has decreed for us. For 26 years Malawi’s wealth has been plundered, its institutions paralysed, and its citizens impoverished by a toxic dynasty of two familie, but God has given us another chance to choose change. THAT is destiny,” said Chakwera amid ululation from his supporters.
He added: “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.”
Chakwera further said that “on July 6, we should mark independence day celebrations by inaugurating the Chakwera-Chilima presidency.”
The MCP-UTM leader, therefore, appealed to all Malawians to engage in civilized campaign to maintain peace and prosperity in the country.
MEC Chairperson, Justice Dr. Jane Ansah urged political parties to promote issue-based campaign, observing that Malawians were tired of politics of castigations.
Ansah added that MEC would continue conducting free, fair and credible elections to the satisfaction of every electoral stakeholder.
The ceremony delayed with an hour as MEC officials refused to start receiving nomination papers from presidential hopefuls due to failure by party supporters to adhere to covid-19 preventive measures.
On February 3, this year, the Constitutional Court nullified the May 21, 2019 presidential poll results citing widespread irregularities.
During the 2019 tripartite elections, UTM and MCP were sworn enemies considering that both Chilima and Chakwera enjoy much support from the Central and northern regions.
Their alliance was formed after the Constitution Court ordered a fresh election in which a winner will be declared based on 50+1 percent system, not simple majority as it has always been the case since the dawn of multiparty democracy.