Governance and Human rights advocate Undule Mwakasungula has described UTM’s decision to boycott the launch of the SKC Foundation as a missed opportunity for the party to demonstrate political maturity and uphold the legacy of its late leader, Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima.
The SKC Foundation, established in memory of Chilima, was launched on Wednesday evening at the BICC in Lilongwe to advance the values and principles he stood for. However, UTM, the party he founded, was absent.
An hour before the launch, UTM officials, led by party president Dalitso Kabambe, held a press briefing where they categorically stated that they had decided not to attend the launch because they did not want to “share a room with people who are yet to account for the death of Chilima.” Their remarks were in reference to President Lazarus Chakwera, whom they accuse of failing to provide clear answers surrounding the tragic plane crash that claimed Chilima’s life in June last year.
Despite UTM’s stance, Mwakasungula believes the party’s absence was a setback in the country’s healing process. “This was not just any other event. It was about celebrating the life and legacy of a leader who dedicated himself to serving Malawians despite the challenges he faced, including his arrest. Attending the launch would have been a show of political maturity and a way of upholding the very statesmanship that Chilima embodied,” he said.
Mwakasungula further argued that Chilima was a leader who put Malawi first, even in the face of adversity. “We saw him continue to serve as Vice President with dignity, despite political turbulence. He remained committed to the people, and this foundation seeks to carry forward that spirit. UTM’s absence, therefore, raises questions about their commitment to the ideals their late leader stood for,” he added.
The launch of the SKC Foundation brought together various stakeholders, including government representatives, civil society, and members of the private sector, all united in preserving Chilima’s vision.
While UTM’s boycott highlights the unresolved tensions surrounding Chilima’s death, political analysts believe the party may have missed an opportunity to reaffirm its place in the country’s political landscape by engaging in a dialogue rather than deepening divisions.
The debate over UTM’s decision continues, with the party standing by its position and insisting that justice for Chilima must come first.
