Chakwera denies being in bad blood with Chilima

President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has denied being in bad blood with his Vice Dr. Saulos Chilima who is also President of the United Transformation Movement (UTM).

Chakwera said this during a secret meeting he held with Catholic Bishops treading under the banner of Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM).

State House Press Officer Anthony Kasunda confirmed of the development in an interview with the press.

Kasunda said the relationship between the President and his vice was one of the issues discussed at the meeting, with the President assuring the bishops that the perceived bad blood between himself and his vice was the work of propagandists.

“President Chakwera pointed out that he agreed with the Vice President to use the Public Sector Reforms Report internally and that what should be made public be recommendations collectively adopted by Cabinet to ensure mutual responsibility as guided by the Tonse spirit.

“On why he merged the Ministry of Finance with the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development and, by implication, taking away the latter from Chilima, President Chakwera informed ECM that the merger was done in compliance with a recommendation made by a special committee which was led by the Vice President himself,” Kasunda was quoted in one of the local daily papers [Daily Times].

Rumours are all over that Chilima and Chakwera are not in good terms.