Chakwera, Chilima Hold Talks On Tonse Cracks; Agree To Move Forward

Just after two weeks of their apparent fallout, President Lazarus Chakwera and his vice Saulos Chilima met and discussed way forward of how the Tonse Alliance will work together in the interest of Malawians.

According to a joint statement the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and United Transformation Movement (UTM) released signed by the parties’ spokesperson Reverend Maurice Munthali and Frank Tumpale Mwenifumbo, said the alliance partners have resolved to put their differences aside and work together to strengthen their working relationship as partners.

According to the statement, the agreement was made yesterday during a meeting between the two leaders Chakwera and Chilima in the capacity as leaders of their parties, they were also accompanied by some top officials from their respective parties.

Two weeks ago, president Chakwera withdrew delegated powers of his vice after his name was mentioned in the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) report form allegedly being involved in corrupt activities with UK-based businessman Zuneth Sattar.

According to Chakwera, the decision was to pave way for investigations by the bureau, on his part Chilima vehemently denied being involved in any corrupt dealings with the businessman but opened his doors for investigations.

In his national address as the country’s vice president Chilima accused his boss of betraying the alliance’s agreement in which he said it is bordering on presidency rotation he went further revealing some of the agreement they made in 2020 prior to the June 23 fresh presidential elections.

However, Chilima’s sentiments were quashed by MCP’s leadership in which the party’s secretary general Eisenhower Mkaka refuted claims that the said document exists.

Mkaka went further adding that in the next presidential elections, they will follow what the country’s supreme laws say. This caused panic in the alliance hence its leaders resorted to meet and talk over the issue.

However, it is not known if the leaders have agreed to go by the agreement in the next presidential elections or not.