Lilongwe, Malawi – Malawi’s Vice President, Dr. Michael Usi, has returned home from Spain after successfully representing President Lazarus Chakwera at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Seville, Spain.
Dr. Usi was welcomed by senior government officials at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, a gesture many say reflects not just protocol, but the respect and confidence he enjoys from the President. While in Spain, he held key diplomatic meetings—including talks with Iceland’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Katrin Gunnarsdottir—and met with officials from the Commonwealth Secretariat. He also took part in a major side event hosted by the Gates Foundation and DEVEX, where he underscored Malawi’s commitment to international development cooperation.
What stands out most, however, is not just where Dr. Usi went—but who sent him. In a political culture once haunted by mistrust between presidents and their deputies, Chakwera’s delegation of such a high-level task to his vice president signals a new chapter in Malawi’s leadership style. Gone are the days when vice presidents were sidelined, humiliated, or hunted like prey in a lion’s territory—such as when former Vice President Cassim Chilumpha was imprisoned under Bingu wa Mutharika’s watch.
Today, the presidency is acting more like a pair of oxen pulling the same plough—different in position, but united in purpose. Dr. Usi’s assignment abroad shows that this government chooses delegation over suspicion, and partnership over power struggles.
President Chakwera’s move is being seen as mature and strategic—trusting his deputy to speak for the nation on a global stage. Political analysts say it’s a refreshing departure from the old playbook where presidents often clipped their deputies’ wings for fear of competition.
For Malawians watching closely, this is more than diplomacy—it’s a sign that unity at the top might just trickle down to the rest of the nation.
