Lilongwe – In a thought-provoking political reflection, respected Malawian political analyst Lyson Sibande has suggested that the late Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima had no intention of breaking ranks with the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) ahead of the 2025 elections. Contrary to the belief of some UTM members, Sibande argues, Chilima remained loyal to the alliance until his untimely death because he understood both the political landscape and his own limitations.
According to Sibande, while many in UTM were growing increasingly frustrated with the MCP-UTM alliance and had repeatedly urged Chilima to walk away, the Vice President remained silent and unmoved. He was reportedly aware that the law barred him from running for president again and knew UTM lacked the electoral strength to stand alone without him as a candidate.
Sibande further claims that Chilima was quietly preparing to support President Chakwera’s candidacy in 2025—not as a running mate, but in exchange for a new high-ranking position, possibly through a constitutional amendment or the creation of a Prime Minister’s office. This alleged plan was kept confidential, and even top UTM officials were reportedly unaware of it.
The current rift between UTM and MCP, according to Sibande, has only worsened in Chilima’s absence. “When he was alive, he never attacked Chakwera or MCP,” he said, “because he knew he needed them more than they needed him.”
Chilima was recently honoured with the naming of a major road in Lilongwe as “Chilima Highway”—a gesture that reflects the deep respect he continues to command in Malawian politics.
