UTM Secretary-General, Patricia Kaliati has cryptically said that she will soon be joining the Malawi Congress Party (MCP). Kaliati said this on Tuesday during a Ground Breaking Ceremony of the 301-kilometer M1 road project at Mtiti in Dowa district which was presided over by Malawi President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera.
Said Kaliati before President Chakwera and Vice President Saulos Chilima—the President of UTM.
“I am assessing the situation and I might be your ‘shadow’ MP soon.”
Kaliati lost her parliamentary seat on the UTM ticket in the 2019 tripartite election and by hinting to President Chakwera that she might be her ‘shadow MP,’ political commentators say it signals that she might soon be joining MCP.
“It just shows that Tonse Alliance has completely collapsed and this is a move by her being a seasoned politician to still maintain her ministerial position fully knowing that it is the President, in this case, Chakwera, not a party President, Chilima, who can maintain her as Minister in a cabinet reshuffle.”
The M1 rehabilitation project is a direct investment aimed at increasing Malawi’s trade capacity as it will strengthen the trade links with essential ports in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania. The 301 Kilometre road has been divided onto 4 lots: Lot 1: KIA turn-off to Kasungu. Lot 2: Kasungu to Jenda. Lot 3: Jenda to Mzimba. Lot 4: Kacheche to Chiweta .The total budget for the trade route is Euro 117,624,097.2 which is being financed by the European Union.
