UTM senior member and Rumphi Central Member of Parliament Dr Mathews Mtumbuka has hit back at former Vice-President Khumbo Kachali over his remarks that UTM president Dalitso Kabambe may have to wait until 2060 to become president.
Mtumbuka responded to Kachali’s comments through his official Facebook page, saying UTM has its eyes firmly set on 2030.
Kachali made the remarks in Tumbuka during the CCAP Livingstonia Synod 40th General Assembly at Mtunthama in Kasungu.
Although he did not directly mention elections, Kachali appeared to question whether Kabambe could make it to the presidency in 2030 before joking that he may have to wait until 2060.
The remarks drew laughter from the gathering.
But Mtumbuka, who was part of Kabambe’s campaign team during last year’s presidential election, has dismissed the 2060 reference.
“Let us recalibrate this: Hypothetically, 2060 was either a pure (insensitive) joke or a ‘senior moment’, or an accidental hybrid of both,” Mtumbuka wrote.
He said if other politicians are planning for 2060, that is their business, insisting that UTM is focused on its own 2030 agenda.
“If others are planning for 2060, that’s their game. Ours is a 2030 DK Project and we don’t need external advisors. Tisiyeni,” he said.
Mtumbuka also said UTM cannot be bullied, while calling for space for younger politicians.
“And we can’t be bullied. Zachikale zimenezo. We are modern progressive politicians – allow ung’ono ung’ono the space too – Malawians want real change – new blood!” he wrote.
He then ended his post with a direct message on the party’s 2030 ambition.
“2030, here we come!! 2060 back to sender!” Mtumbuka wrote.
Kabambe was among political figures who attended the Synod’s 40th General Assembly, alongside former president Lazarus Chakwera and Second Vice-President Enock Chihana.
At the gathering, Kabambe called for national unity, urging Malawians to keep politics separate from worship and national occasions.
He said Malawi needs a “process of national detoxification”, where prayer belongs to God, politics belongs to the democratic process and national events belong to every Malawian.
