UTM Elective Convention Kicks Off in Mzuzu

Accommodation Scarcity: a burden

The United Transformation Movement (UTM) elective convention is set to take place tomorrow, November 17, 2024, at Chisanga Complex in Mzuzu, with approximately 800 delegates anticipated to attend.

However, the city is facing an accommodation crisis as delegates and supporters have been arriving ahead of the event, leaving hotel and lodge proprietors cashing in on the high demand.

In a surprise move, Vice President Michael Usi, who is also the UTM leader, announced that he will not attend the convention.

Upon his arrival from the COP29 conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, Usi stated that he does not want to be party to breaking the party’s rules. “Let them do whatever they want to do,” he said.

• ACB Urged to Act on Chithyola Corruption Allegations as Public Trust Wants Answers
  By Jones Gadama The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Malawi is facing mounting pressure to take immediate action on allegations of…
• Judiciary Under Siege: CDEDI Demands Immediate Resignation of Chief Justice and Attorney General Over Corruption Claims
  By Suleman Chitera The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiative (CDEDI) has issued a stern seven-day ultimatum demanding the…
• MCP member welcomes wholeheartedly Chilima’s new investigation
  By Vincent Gunde Social influencer who is also Malawi Congress Party (MCP) member Gerald Chavez Kampanikiza of Dedza, says Malawians…
• Parliamentary Absenteeism Reaches Crisis Point: 159 MPs Skip Sitting
  By Burnett Munthali A staggering 159 members of parliament were absent from the latest parliamentary sitting, sparking widespread concerns about…
• Senior Citizen Urges Malawian Parliament to Strengthen Oversight After Supreme Court Finance Bank Ruling
  By Suleman Chitera In a thoughtful and patriotic open letter addressed to the Parliament of Malawi, senior citizen Willard Mhone…

The convention will see four prominent members vying for the party’s top spot: Newton Kambala, Dalitso Kabambe, Dr. Mathews Mtumbuka, and Patricia Kaliati.

A traveler from Blantyre expressed frustration over the accommodation shortage, saying, “We are not here for the UTM convention, but everywhere we go in Mzuzu, accommodation is fully booked.

“The only place we hope to get some space is Ekwendeni, which is roughly 21 kilometers from the city.”

The convention comes after the party resolved its internal differences, reaffirming its commitment to inclusiveness ahead of the elective conferences.