In a surprise move, a group of concerned members of the UTM party have spoken out against recent decisions made by the party’s rogue faction led by Kaliati. This comes as a surprise, to the UTM’s Secretary General and her rogue faction who apparently never saw this coming.
In a strongly worded statement, the UTM Concerned Members expressed “deep concerns” regarding the ‘party’s’ recent decisions, which they claim were made “without proper consultation.”
The group, which appears to represent a faction within the party, is particularly alarmed by the tacit courting of Mr. Dalitso Kabambe, a senior official from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), to the position of UTM Party President.
The concerned members question the sudden interest of Mr. Kabambe, a long-standing DPP affiliate, in the UTM party, noting that this “arrangement raises many concerns and lacks transparency.”
They demand an explanation from the party leadership on how this decision aligns with the ideals and principles championed by the late Dr. Saulos Chilima, the UTM party’s founder and a key figure in shaping the party’s vision and values.
The statement goes on to criticize the party’s decision-making process, stating that “most of these decisions are being made without proper consultation and appears to be driven by personal animosity rather than the interests of the party and its members.”
The concerned members believe that some of these decisions are “premature and coming at a sensitive time, just a month after the passing of our visionary leader, the late Right Honourable Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima.”
The UTM Concerned Members have called on the party leadership to “reconsider this decision and engage in meaningful consultation with all stakeholders to ensure that the party’s future is determined by its members, not just a few individuals.”
They have also urged the party to adopt a “more inclusive and transparent approach to decision-making, one that honors Dr. Chilima’s memory and respects the wishes of the party’s loyal members.”
The UTM’s acting President, who is backed by the party’s constitution as the Chief Administrative Head of the party, has since rubbished Kaliati’s pronouncements, saying UTM is under his stewardship and remains committed to the alliance with President Chakwera’s party, MCP.
This internal dispute within the UTM party comes at a critical juncture, as the party navigates the aftermath of Dr. Chilima’s passing and seeks to maintain the unity and vision that he championed. The concerns raised by the UTM Concerned Members highlight the need for the party’s leadership to engage in more inclusive and transparent decision-making processes, in order to honor the legacy of its founder and retain the trust of its loyal membership.
