UTM Remains Strong And Attractive–Kaliati

By Martha Kachingwe Phiri, LILONGWE

UTM Secretary General Patricia Kaliati says their party remains strong and continues attracting several people ahead of the 2025 general elections.

She spoke this in Lilongwe when welcoming 17 new members who have reportedly defected to UTM from the Alliance for Democracy-AFORD; bragging that their party is marketable.

Kaliati added the difference between their party and others is that they are a national and not a regional party.

Again, she stressed that what they are doing is for UTM and its leader, Dr. Saulos Chilima and not Alliance.

UTM is a key partner in the governing Tonse Alliance that booted out the opposition Democratic Progressive Party-DPP in the court sanctioned presidential poll in June 2020.

But there are now serious uncertainties and seemingly power struggle on the future of the Alliance as officials from UTM and its key partner, Malawi Congress Party have on several occasions engaged in heated debates and confrontations

This began last year after Chilima publicly told the nation that his power deal with Chakwera stipulates he will lead the Alliance after Chakwera’s five year term.

However, senior MCP officials have also openly disagreed to the sentiments while endorsing Chakwera as their torchbearer in the forthcoming general elections.