By Suleman Chitera

The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) says it will not attend this year’s memorial ceremony for late former Vice President and UTM leader Saulos Chilima after allegedly being excluded from the official invitation list by the United Transformation Movement (UTM).

The memorial event is expected to take place in Ntcheu as Malawians continue to remember Chilima, who remained one of the country’s most influential political figures.Kaliati accuses Chakwera government of undermining Saulos Chilima’s vision

MCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwila said the ruling party respects the organizers of the event and has therefore chosen not to force itself into attending a ceremony it was not invited to.

According to Kabwila, MCP believes UTM had its own reasons for excluding the party from the commemorative gathering.

“We cannot impose ourselves where we have not been invited. Out of respect for those organizing the event, we have decided not to attend,” she said.Chilima Had No Confidence in MCP Alliance, Says Njawala

The development has once again exposed the strained relationship between MCP and UTM, a political rivalry analysts say dates back several years.

Political analyst George Chaima said the tension between the two parties did not start recently, arguing that disagreements have existed since the time Chilima was actively leading UTM.

According to Chaima, the latest development shows that political divisions between the two camps remain unresolved despite past cooperation within government.

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Speaking to Zaam TV Online, UTM spokesperson Felix Njawala confirmed that MCP had intentionally not been invited to the ceremony.

Njawala said UTM had invited various stakeholders, including businesspeople, individuals from different sectors, and representatives of several political parties, but deliberately left out MCP.chilima teaches the pupils how to plant trees

The decision is likely to trigger further debate in Malawi’s political landscape, especially as parties continue positioning themselves ahead of future political battles.

The late Saulos Chilima remains a respected figure among many Malawians, with memorial events expected to draw attention from political leaders, supporters, and the general public across the country.How Malawi’s Gold Is Allegedly Flowing Into Israel Through Smuggling Networks