Malawi Vice President Takes Leadership Of Opposition Party
Faizan Hashmi Published December 18, 2018 | 04:21 AM
Lilongwe, Malawi, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Dec, 2018 ) :Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima was elected head of the United Transformation Movement (UTM) party on Monday, paving way for him to challenge President Peter Mutharika in May elections.
Chilima was handpicked by Mutharika to run alongside him in the 2014 elections on the Democratic People's Party (DPP) ticket.
But Chilima quit the DPP in June to form the UTM, citing corruption, nepotism and cronyism in the ruling party.
About 900 delegates gathered in Lilongwe for the UTM's first convention since the party was founded five months ago.
"We cannot continue in the 'business-as-usual' manner in which our country has been run," Chilima said after being elected unopposed.
"Our calling is a call to service and to reclaim Malawi." Under the constitution, the vice president cannot be sacked by the president.
Chilima, 45, is seen as a young challenger to Mutharika, 79, who won the election in 2014, two years after his brother, Bingu wa Mutharika, died while serving as president.
Chilima's chances of launching a serious challenge to Mutharika remain uncertain.
Food shortages, power outages and ballooning external debt have hurt the president's popularity.
"Chilima could be a dark horse as people are increasingly disturbed by the the current government," said Switzerland-based political analyst Onjezani Kenani.
Joyce Banda, 69, is back in the country after a four-year absence, hoping to reclaim the presidency that she held between 2012 and 2014.
Malawi is one of the world's most aid-dependent countries and its economy is mainly based on subsistence farming.
Recent Stories
Infinix Unveils a Vibrant New Chapter with Wahaj Ali: The face of Infinix NOTE 4 ..
PM makes two more appointments in his team
Terrorists of Shangla suicide attack will be brought to justice: Interior Minist ..
Applications Open for 6th Cycle of Start-up Incubation under the National Expans ..
Join vivo's "Light it Up" Social Media Contest in Ramadan to Win vivo V30 5G
Pakistan v New Zealand T20I series: Tickets to go on sale from today
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 29 March 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 29 March 2024
Journalists call for global action to end Gaza’s humanitarian crisis
CM for generating opportunities to bring direct int'l investment
Pakistan retains position in FTSE secondary emerging market
High Commissioner of Malaysia hosts Iftar dinner reception
More Stories From World
-
Israeli strikes kill 42 in Syria's Aleppo province
9 minutes ago -
Calls for 'smartphone free' childhood grow in UK
29 minutes ago -
Russia hits Ukraine energy sector in overnight attack
29 minutes ago -
A-bomb saga 'Oppenheimer' finally opens in Japan
39 minutes ago -
Titian's masterpiece "Flora" breathes vibrancy into Sino-Italian art exchange
49 minutes ago -
Beijing International Film Festival to open mid-April
49 minutes ago
-
China's overnight Shibor interbank rate decreases Friday
59 minutes ago -
Tokyo stocks end higher tracking Wall Street gains
1 hour ago -
Boao forum urges global cooperation in energy transition
1 hour ago -
China to export homegrown tunnel-boring machine to Italy
1 hour ago -
Over 9 pct of Mongolia's livestock die in cold winter
1 hour ago -
ChiNext Index closes higher Friday
1 hour ago