Malawi: Former President Mutharika Offers Rousing Tribute To fallen Vice President Chilima

By Joseph Dumbula

Malawi’s former president Professor Peter Mutharika, has described the late Saulos Chilima as a Vice President with whom he managed to deal with socio-economic woes that haunted the nation from 2014.

Mutharika had Chilima as his Vice President from 2014 until 2019 polls when they parted ways with the fallen leader forming his own party UTM-and partnering in an alliance with the Malawi Congress Party and other parties which defeated Mutharika Democratic Progress Party in a court sanctioned fresh presidential poll in 2020.

Chilima died last Monday in a plane crash along with eight other senior officials on their way to a funeral. An inquiry has meanwhile been instituted.

Mutharika who graced the event along the incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera and former leaders Bakili Muluzi as well as Joyce Banda posted on Facebook hours after the burial an emotional messages praising Chilima for his professionalism.

Mutharika said his choice for Chilima as his vice in the 2014 elections, met with skepticism from both within and outside his party, but said he stood up to his choice because he saw in him the potential to help him fix the country.

He said: “The risk I took that day paid off when, in May, we were sworn into office and wasted no time in hitting the ground running. Over twelve months, our efforts bore fruit: we stabilized the currency, reduced inflation, restored security, and nurtured a thriving business environment. We believed in each other, supported each other through challenges, and worked hand in hand to realize our shared vision for Malawi.”

He added: ‘’Chilima had rare courage, wisdom in decision-making, and steadfast dedication to the people of Malawi as some of Chilima’s traits that amazed him during their journey in the political arena.

The former Malawi leader also pointed out that as he laid wreaths on Chilima’s final home, he could not help but remember the dynamic young man he walked with into Comesa Hall, both of them driven by a shared determination to uplift Malawi.

Late Chilima, who is also a renowned management executive is survived by a wife and two children and has died aged 51.