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Where is UTM and Chilima colourful Photos and Marketing?

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Where is UTM and Chilima colourful Photos and Marketing?

By Zakale Botomani

I have been an admirer of UTM marketing prowess. To say that the party delivers the best marketing presentation than any other political party in Malawi is the perfect description. However, as a keen follower I have observed that something is amiss lately.

Politics is at the climax in Malawi no doubt about that. We have seen the political players embarking on whistle stops trying to garner support and win potential voters. While politics is one area that interests me, as somebody from a marketing background I find myself having an eagle eye on the overall marketing strategies of the political parties. As highlighted, to say that UTM is the masters of branding is no crime, the guys know how to deliver crispy materials, well presented and catchy to the eye. Respect to their media team

Quality Photos: Chakwera and Chilima

But what has gone wrong? Sadly, I am afraid to be a bearer of bad news that the party’s marketing quality has fallen short of expected standards that they themselves set in the first place. UTM has been a party that engineered presence of high-quality photos in time as Dr Saulos Chilima is on the road. These photos have always been a delight to see, not only due to their timely delivery but the quality. I am not in a position to know who their photographer is, but one thing undeniable is that he is a talent that cannot be denied.

As a branding enthusiast, I have been shocked with the quality of photos that have been coming from the party recently. The recent whistle-stops have lacked presentation and came close to showing Dr Saulos Chilima as if he is not doing well on the ground. Those responsible for taking pictures are failing to catch the heart of the party , that aura of presentation that tightly goes together with perceived quality that has always been expected of UTM brand.

Not typical photos from UTM media

Not all is lost, as One lady I have followed for along time Winnie Nyondo continues to represent the UTM brand in the videos that she beams on her Facebook page.

I may have an eagle eye but I truly believe that many people have also observed this lack of quality photos from the once mighty men of Marketing UTM. It is my hope that the Media team of the party will have a good look at the lowering of quality that is clearly visible now .

DPP has neglected Northern region-Claims Mtambo at Rumphi rally

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DPP has neglected Northern region-Claims Mtambo at Rumphi rally

By Chalo Mvula

The Commander in Chief of CFT movement Timothy Mtambo has accused the ruling DPP government of neglecting the people of Northern region. He was speaking in Rumphi at a rally he addressed together with other alliance leaders that Included MCP director  of Youth Richard Chimwendo.  Mtambo told the thousands that gathered that the northern region has suffered from empty promises from the DPP regime.

Mtambo who started the day with whistle stops that saw him greet people in Ekwendeni and Enukweni made bold claims that DPP promise to build a University in the region has not been fulfilled. President Mutharika back in 2015   laid a stone to mark the beginning of a project to build Mombera University. 5 years down the line the university has not been built. Mtambo reminded the people that DPP promised to build a new airport in Mzuzu but has not been fulfilled. He also mentioned of Rumphi Chitipa road which has been another empty promise

Mtambo, Chimwendo , Chihana in Rumphi

Mtambo told the gathering that Peter Mutharika is a president who does not understand problems that affect Malawians. He questioned whether his many years of living abroad affected his understanding of   Malawi problems. Mtambo reminded the people that Peter Mutharika only came back to Malawi because his brother then, Bingu, was the President.  He said DPP has failed to provide drugs in hospitals and has also failed to properly investigate several atrocities including the killing of albinos.

He encouraged the gathering that a safe choice in the next presidential election will be Dr Lazarus Chakwera and Dr Chilima, leaders he described as having greater understanding of issues that affect local Malawians.

Mtambo cautioned Malawians to be careful when listening to leaders like Atupele Muluzi.  “Atupele is a leader who has never faced problems in his life as he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth”. He called on those that support UDF to wake up, dump the party and support Tonse alliance as they are just being used to achieve Muluzi’s personal family ambitions.

He reminded the people to vote for alliance torchbearer Dr Lazarus Chgakwera.  “Chakwera is promising to create jobs for young people. He will continue development from where Kamuzu left” . On claims that MCP is an evil party ,Mtambo reminded the gathering that claims that MCP is a bad party are false as the party has new leadership now. He told the gathering that all those who made MCP to be a bad party  are now part of the DPP UDF alliance citing names like Nicholas Dausi, Heatherwick Ntaba Bakili Muluzi and Henry Mussa

Also in attendance at the rally was Aford only member of parliament Yeremiah Chihana, who a few days ago raised eyebrows as he was pictured with renown DPP fixer Leston Mulli. Chihana told the gathering of his commitment to the Tonse alliance.

History of Malawi will not remember Chimulirenji as veep- Chilima hits at Adzonzi

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History of Malawi will not remember Chimulirenji as veep- Chilima hits at Adzonzi

By Chalo Mvula

Vice President on Malawi and Tonse Alliance running mate Saulos Chilima has hit out  at former Vice president  Everton Chimulirenji  and urged him to stop spouting nonsense in DPP rallies. Chilima who was speaking at rally he addressed together with Tonse alliance leaders  at Njamba, was responding to a statement made by Chimulirenji  where he accused Chilima of ousting him as the country vice president

Earlier ,at a rally that took place at Masintha in Lilongwe, Everton Chimulirenji  claimed  that  he could still have been the vice president of Malawi if not for Saulos Chilima who ousted him by going to the courts  so that elections should be nullified.  In his response Chilima firstly reminded Chimulirenji that he did not oust him from  the veep position but  it was the courts.  He questioned Chimulirenji’s ability to understand of  things  and it was the courts  and  judges who made the final court decision not Chilima.

Chilima said Chimulirenji disrespecting of the judiciary is very worrying . He attacked DPP and UDF leaders for continually disrespecting the courts of the land.

Chilima said Chimulirenji did nothing is his tenure as vice president of the country except  answering to his boss Mutharika as “yes pulofesa”. He  went on to say Chimulirenji cannot even  manage to be a vice president of DPP party.

Chilima had no kind words for the Muluzi family either. He repeated his accusation that Bakili Muluzi stole $500 thousand dollars and that the former leader should pay back the money. He reiterated that the UDF  DPP alliance  is all about protecting each other from prosecution  ”DPP and UDF alliance is an alliance of thieves” .  He warned Malawians  that they should not be hoodwinked into voting  for an alliance that is aimed at stealing from Malawians.

Huge crowd that gathered at Njamba

Chilima also had strong words for Atupele Muluzi whom he said is enjoying the privileges of a vice president  just because UTM and MCP went to court to challenge the outcome of the elections  “Atupele should know that  if we didn’t go to court  you could not be a running mate or be enjoying privileges like a vice president”.  He warned the young Muluzi to refrain from dividing the country through religious and tribal rhetoric

Chilima said the parties that form the Tonse alliance  made that decisions with the aim of bringing the country together.

Chakwera Challenges Mutharika to a debate – Wishes Muslims happy Eid

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Chakwera Challenges Mutharika to a debate – Wishes Muslims happy Eid

By Chalo Mvula

The presidential candidate of the Tonse alliance who is also the president of Malawi Congress Party has challenged President Mutharika to an election debate. Mutharika who is known for shying away from debates hasn’t been seen in public for the past two weeks and hasn’t started campaigning yet. Chakwera made the remarks at a rally he held at Kapiri in Mchinji.

Addressing the thousands of people that gathered Chakwera started by commending his alliance partners for coming together to form the grand alliance. He told the gathering that some of the alliance partners had the capability to go it alone, but have humbled themselves, joined the alliance and opted in having one presidential candidate.

Chakwera in Mchinji

Chakwera then took a shot at Mutharika, challenging him for a debate which he described as having prospects of being exciting.  It is unlikely though that Mutharika will accept the offer. DPP is known for using a strategy that sees its candidates avoid debates. Both Mutharika and running mate in the late election Everton Chimulirenji skipped the debates.  When asked by reporters at the end of the rally on what he meant by calling Mutharika for this debate Chakwera said “We usually have debates around this time , so I don’t know where Mutharika is? Mutharika should come out and let us debate issues that are affecting the nation”

Chakwera also went on to recommend religious leaders who are being bold and brave in speaking out against the evils of the current regime. The Tonse alliance torchbearer said he has so much respect for all the religions in the country. He took this opportunity to criticize political leaders who want to use religion as a tool to divide people for political gains. Chakwera expressed that he was saddened by other leaders who want to portray MCP as a party that does not accommodate Muslims   “Let me remind them that the vice president of MCP is Hon Sidik Mia who is devout Muslim, so do  not let anybody lie to you that MCP is against Muslims” Chakwera described MCP and the Tonse alliance as tolerant to people of all faiths. He then wished all Muslims a happy Eid  Mubarak celebrations.

crowds welcoming Chakwera

He urged the gathering that everyone should make sure that they go and cast their vote. Malawians have suffered for so long from problems caused by corrupt leaders and increasing levels of nepotism that limits opportunities to people from other parts of the country and only rewards a few. He promised that his government will make sure that the new Malawi should be a better Malawi for everybody.

At the rally MCP secretary general  Eisenhower Mkaka also asked the president to welcome members  who had defected from the ruling DPP party.

Catholic bishops issues pastoral letter- calls for new era for malawi

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Catholic bishops issues pastoral letter- calls for new era for malawi

Catholic bishops in the country, under the umbrella of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), have said Malawi needs a new era as the country prepares for the June 23 presidential fresh elections.

The influential Catholic church  played a significant role in birthing democracy in Malawi when they issued a Pastoral Letter in 1992 at the height of Kamuzu Banda’s regime under which was titled ‘Living our faith’.

The letter, and the subsequent incidents thereafter, turned to be the whip that broke the back-bone of Kamuzu Banda’s one party dictatorship.

And in this 26th Pastoral Letter read out in all Catholic churches on Sunday titled ‘A Further Call for a New Era in Malawi: Leadership at the Service of Citizens,’ the bishops noted that the country is at crossroads.

Some of the catholic bishops

“We can either choose to save our nation or destroy it,” reads the letter.

“The most urgent task before us is to choose a leader who can rescue it from further deterioration. We call upon all duty bearers to ensure that the forthcoming presidential election is free, fair, credible and peaceful.

“We also urge all Malawians to go and vote and vote wisely, keeping in mind the consequences of not voting or not voting wisely. Let us continue to pray and seek God’sguidance for the success of this election,” the powerful church hierarchy wrote.

The seven Bishops noted that the forthcoming presidential election provides Malawi with an opportunity to choose a leader who can save the  country from collapsing and who can turn it into a unified, orderly and prosperous nation.

“As we said in our previous pastoral letters, such a leader requires to have the following necessary qualities: honesty, democratic, transformational leadership, visionary, selflessness, servant leadership (Mark 10:44), good stewardship, exemplary, decisiveness, respect for the Constitution and the rule of law, willingness to step down (Luke 17:10), being above tribal/regional/political interests, accountable and God-fearing.

“Failure to have such a leader will result in our nation becoming more chaotic, divided and with deepening levels of poverty. Wakutsina khutu ndi mnansi,” the bishops epistle reads.

The Bishops further point at several political factors that have hindered Malawi’s development and that need to be put right.

This include rising tribalism, increasing acts of political violence, rising levels of impunity, rising levels of corruption and fraud, dysfunctional systems of public service delivery, the Covid-19 pandemic and continued environmental degradation.

The ECM also notes that there are challenges related to holding a credible election.

“Aware of the fact that an election is a process not an event, we are concerned about the following: the loss of public trust and confidence in the current Malawi Electoral Commissioners, inconsistency in the determination of electoral calendar, vandalism of MECequipment, lack of security in centres where MEC is processing voter transfers and issuing duplicate voter certificates, biased, unprofessional and defamatory reporting by the public broadcaster, MBC.

“We are also concerned with the general abuse of freedom of expression by political party zealots on social media by among others, fabricating all forms of falsehood, lies and rumour-mongering. This calls upon all Malawians to exercise extra vigilance to ensure that the electoral process is transparent. Let there be issue-based campaign. Above all, it calls for a leadership that can provide appropriate direction and supervision.”

The incumbent President Peter Mutharika, a 80-year-old former law professor, has managed to rein in rising prices of basic goods and improved Malawi’s roads and other infrastructure. However, critics accuse him of cronyism and failing to tackle graft.

The Pastoral Letter has been signed by leaders of all the eight Catholic dioceses in the country, led by ECM bishop chairman Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa of Blantyre.

He is deputized by Right Reverend Martin Mtumbuka Vice-President, the Bishop of Karonga.

Other members are the Most Reverend Tarsizio Ziyaye, Archbishop of Lilongwe; Right Reverend Peter Musikuwa, Bishop of Chikwawa; Right Reverend Montfort Stima who is the Bishop of Mangochi; Right Reverend George Tambala, Bishop of Zomba; Right Reverend John Ryan, Bishop of Mzuzu and the Very Reverend John Chithonje, Diocesan Administrator of Dedza

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