Malawi’s political scene faces a shakeup as the United Transformation Movement (UTM), led by the late Vice President Saulos Chilima, announced its withdrawal from the governing alliance on Friday.
This move comes amidst lingering questions surrounding Chilima’s tragic death and dissatisfaction with the current administration.
Chilima, along with eight others, perished in a plane crash in June.
The military aircraft carrying them went down in the Chikangawa Forest due to bad weather.
The UTM has repeatedly expressed concerns about the circumstances surrounding the accident and the handling of its aftermath.
The party, which formed a crucial coalition with President Lazarus Chakwera’s Malawi Congress Party (MCP) to win the 2020 election, now accuses the MCP of breaching the terms of the alliance agreement.
The UTM claims the spirit and details of the agreement have been “undermined and betrayed”.
Adding to the tension, the UTM is demanding an independent investigation into the plane crash.
They criticize the government’s handling of information about the incident and the search and rescue efforts, which they believe leave room for speculation.
President Chakwera has previously maintained the airworthiness of the aircraft, stating he had flown on it himself and the crew operated it successfully just before the crash.
However, with the UTM threatening protests, Malawi’s political stability hangs in the balance as the search for answers and accountability continues.
