BY: Precious Malemba
The Vice President of the Republic, Dr Michael Biziwick Usi, is scheduled to officially launch his political party, Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu, on Saturday, 27th April 2025. The event will take place at the renowned Masintha Ground in Lilongwe, a location well known for its political significance.
Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu is not an entirely new name in Malawi’s political landscape. The party first emerged ahead of the 2019 general elections when its leader, now the sitting Vice President, was selected by the late Dr Saulos Chilima as his running mate.
Following Dr Chilima’s tragic death in a plane crash on 10th June 2024, while serving as Vice President, Dr Usi assumed the role of caretaker leader of the UTM party. However, his leadership was met with resistance from some quarters, as he was perceived by many UTM loyalists as an outsider.
The announcement of the official launch of Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu has not come as a surprise to political observers. Tensions had already been apparent in the lead-up to the UTM elective convention, which Dr Usi denounced as ‘illegal’ and subsequently declined to contest for his position.
In a break from tradition, the party will be launched not in the southern region, where Dr Usi hails from specifically Mulanje district, but in the central region, a known stronghold of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP). This choice of venue has sparked curiosity and debate among political analysts and the public alike.