By Staff Reporter

UTM Breaks Silence on Vice President Jane Ansah’s Reported Exclusion from Cabinet Meeting

The United Transformation Movement (UTM) has expressed concern over reports that Vice President Dr. Jane Ansah was excluded from a Cabinet meeting held in Lilongwe, saying the incident reflects a troubling pattern that Malawi has witnessed before.

In a statement released on Friday afternoon, UTM President Dr. Dalitso Kabambe said the reported development goes beyond administrative procedure and raises broader questions about leadership, governance and respect for constitutional offices.

According to Kabambe, the party was deeply saddened by the reports, arguing that they evoke memories of the treatment endured by the party’s founding leader and former Vice President, the late Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima.

“The UTM Party knows all too well the pain behind such a message,” Kabambe said.

He added that Chilima’s experience while serving as Vice President remains a reminder of the dangers of sidelining elected leaders.UTM Pledges Support to DPP Government, Vows Comeback in Future Elections

“Our late founder, Rt. Hon. Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, knew what it meant to serve at the highest level, only to face isolation, marginalisation, victimisation, and the shrinking of the very space in which he was elected to serve,” Kabambe said.

Kabambe argued that Malawi learned difficult lessons from that period, saying leadership should never be used to exclude or diminish individuals entrusted with public office.Kabambe calls for independent enquiry into Chilima’s death

“When leaders treat people as instruments of power, the whole nation suffers,” he said.

The UTM leader further urged political leaders to promote unity, mutual respect and institutional integrity, stressing that democratic governance is strengthened when constitutional offices are treated with dignity regardless of political differences.

The reported absence of Vice President Ansah from the Cabinet meeting has generated debate in political circles, with some observers questioning the circumstances surrounding the development. However, government authorities had not publicly commented on the matter at the time of publication.UTM Positions Itself as Malawi’s Economic Rescue Plan Amid Deepening Crisis

UTM said the country should avoid repeating mistakes of the past and instead focus on building institutions that respect the Constitution and uphold democratic values.

The party maintained that Malawi’s democracy depends on transparent governance, accountability and respect for every office established under the Constitution.

As public discussion continues, attention is likely to focus on whether the government will provide clarification regarding the Vice President’s reported absence from the Cabinet meeting.