Henry Mkumbira Phiri

It is my prayer that Dr Saulosi Klaus Chilima be the last Vice President of Malawi to lead a rebellious faction. This office needs a total constitutional overhaul. We have had enough of having two political parties running Malawi government affairs opposite of each other. It is very deleterious to the incumbent having his second-in command running a parallel executive branch of government.

I do not know how others perceive it, but this is very unhealthy for Malawi’s economy and political atmosphere having rebellious Vice Presidents in office all the times. It does not matter who is at fault, the President or the Veep, but their healthy relationship is paramount to Malawi’s economy and political stability.

The drafters of our constitution nailed it to have both the President and Vice voted onto power directly and simultaneously. However, it has always been very unfortunate seeing this backfiring badly, as Veep’s have proved otherwise making taxpayers fund two ruling political parties, running the executive arm autonomously.

It is very infelicitous to have Veep’s running rebellious factions all the times, and I wonder why Malawians see no problem with that. For how long shall we see this happening?

First it was Muluzi and Malewezi. Then came Bingu and Chilumpha, Bingu and Dr. Joyce Banda, and now APM and Dr. Chilima. This is one big area that was overlooked by Dr Chilima when he was drafting the public reforms. I guess he feared the notion of conflict of interest. And of course, this surely tells, that the relationship of the President and Vice, shall never be healed if the constitution keeps on backing the Veep’s immunity.

If this area is not addressed the soonest, I foresee another rebellious faction in the offing regardless of which ever party wins the forthcoming fresh polls.

To the UTM fraternity, this is not personal, but for the general good of Malawi. Do not be fooled that empowering the Vice Presidency as proposed by UTM will change things. That will even make it worse!

Henry Mkumbira Phiri
Political Dissector