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Saulos Chilima

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The Right Honourable
Saulos Chilima
Chilima in 2022
7th Vice President of Malawi
In office
3 February 2020 – 10 June 2024
PresidentPeter Mutharika
Lazarus Chakwera
Preceded byEverton Chimulirenji
Succeeded byMichael Usi
In office
31 May 2014 – 31 May 2019
PresidentPeter Mutharika
Preceded byKhumbo Kachali
Succeeded byEverton Chimulirenji
Minister of Economic Planning and Development
In office
29 June 2020 – 10 June 2024
PresidentLazarus Chakwera
Preceded byPosition created
Succeeded byVacant
Minister of the Civil Service
In office
31 May 2014 – 31 May 2019
PresidentPeter Mutharika
Preceded byKhumbo Kachali
Minister Responsible for Public Events and Disaster Management
In office
31 May 2014 – 31 May 2019
PresidentPeter Mutharika
Preceded byKhumbo Kachali
Personal details
Born
Saulos Klaus Chilima

(1973-02-12)12 February 1973
Ntcheu, Malawi
Died10 June 2024(2024-06-10) (aged 51)
Chikangawa Forest Reserve, Malawi
Cause of deathPlane crash
Political partyTonse Alliance
United Transformation Movement (UTM)
Other political
affiliations		Democratic Progressive Party (until 2018)
SpouseMary Chilima
Children2 (Sean and Elizabeth)
Alma materUniversity of Malawi
University of Bolton

Saulos Klaus Chilima (12 February 1973 – 10 June 2024) was a Malawian economist and politician who served as Vice President of Malawi from 2014 to 2019 and again from 2020 until his death in 2024.[1] Chilima assumed office on 28 June 2020, winning the majority alongside presidential candidate Lazarus Chakwera. Chilima also served as the Minister of Economic Planning and Development, as well as Head of Public Sector Reforms, a position he also previously held under the administration of former president Peter Mutharika. Before joining politics, Chilima held key leadership positions in various multi-national companies including Unilever, Coca-Cola, and Airtel Malawi, where he rose to become Chief Executive Officer.[2]

On 10 June 2024, a plane carrying Chilima and nine other passengers crashed in Chikangawa Forest Reserve in Mzimba District when it took off from Malawi's capital Lilongwe and did not land at its planned destination of Mzuzu Airport. The plane was unable to land at the airport due to poor visibility and was ordered to return to Lilongwe prior to the crash.[3] On 11 June 2024, Chilima and the other passengers were reported dead after the plane's wreckage was found.[4]

Early life and education[edit]

Born on 12 February 1973 in Ntcheu, Malawi.[5] He was the first child of Henderson Brown Chilima of Ching'anga Village, T/A Njewa, Lilongwe and Elizabeth Frances Valeira Chilima of Mbilintengerenji Village, T/A Champiti, Ntcheu. Chilima spent most of his early life in Blantyre where his parents were working and spent his summer holidays with his paternal and maternal grandparents in Lilongwe and Ntcheu, respectively.[6]

Chilima did his primary school at HHI and Dharap primary schools, and his secondary education at the Marist Brothers Mtendere Secondary School Thiwi in the Dedza District.[7] He went on to the University of Malawi, Chancellor College, where he graduated with a degree in social sciences in 1994. After working for a few years, he returned to his alma mater (University of Malawi) to pursue a master of arts in Economics, graduating in 2005. On 10 August 2015, Chilima received his Ph.D in Knowledge Management from the University of Bolton in the United Kingdom.[8]

Business career[edit]

A marketer by profession, Chilima started his work career at Lever Brothers (Mw) Limited (now part of Unilever) before moving on to the Leasing and Finance Company of Malawi, and later Southern Bottlers Limited (now Castel Malawi).[9][10] His last professional assignment was at Airtel Malawi where he was hired to lead its sales team before being named the first-ever local managing director for the company in 2010.[9]

Chilima's most notable professional career successes include spearheading the strategic and breakthrough projects at Airtel, namely Project Precision, Yabooka, Airtel Money, and a 3G network upgrade, which resulted in significant impacts on the business revenue and employee engagement, growing Airtel Malawi's annual revenue by 75% over a period of three years from US$54 million in 2010 to US$95 million in 2013.[11]

Political career[edit]

In February 2014, Chilima was the running mate of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Peter Mutharika for the May 2014 presidential election.[12]

Chilima later left the DPP and launched his own party, the United Transformation Movement (UTM), on 21 July 2018 to contest the May 2019 elections.[13][14] On 1 February 2019, the UTM held meetings with two other political parties and an alliance of smaller political parties aimed at forming a united opposition. These included the Alliance for Democracy (Aford), former President Joyce Banda's People's Party, and the Tikonze People's Movement led by former Vice-President Cassim Chilumpha. They agreed to field one presidential candidate for the election. Both Banda and Chilumpha later withdrew from the alliance citing "disagreement with the selection of a presidential running mate for the candidate of the upcoming election" as their reason.[15]

In the election, Chilima alongside Michael Usi as a running mate came third with 20.24% of the popular vote and the UTM won four seats in the National Assembly. However, the presidential election was annulled and rerun in 2020. In that year, Chilima contested the race as Lazarus Chakwera's running mate for the Malawi Congress Party, in the Tonse alliance which brought up to nine opposition political parties with hopes to topple the administration of Peter Mutharika.[16]

On 22 June 2022, Chilima was stripped of his delegated powers as a vice president due to his involvement in a US$150 million corruption scandal[17] involving alleged influence in the awarding of government contracts.[18]

In November 2022, he was charged on allegations that he received US$280,000 from a British businessman Zuneth Sattar in exchange for awarding government contracts to Xaviar Ltd and Malachitte FZE, two companies linked to Sattar. He pleaded not guilty to the corruption charges.[19] In May 2024 the corruption charges were dropped after the state prosecutor filed a motion to dismiss the case. President Chakwera had started to assign official duties to Chilima even before the charges were dropped.[20]

Advocacies[edit]

Previously, Chilima also served as minister for disaster relief and public events.[21]

Chilima was a member of the Leadership Council of Compact 2025, a partnership that develops and disseminates evidence-based advice to politicians and other decision-makers aimed at ending hunger and undernutrition by 2025,[22] and wrote on the topic of malnutrition.[23] He spoke on sustainable and inclusive development[24] and at international conferences on ending hunger.[25]

Chilima voiced his advocacy of environmentalism[26] and of physical fitness[27] and sports participation,[28] a stern critic of corruption in politics,[29][30][31] and an active supporter of Archdiocesan seminaries.[32] As a student, he led the students' wing of Alliance for Democracy (Aford), founded by Chakufwa Chihana for championing multi-party democracy.[9]

Personal life[edit]

Chilima was married to Mary Chilima. They have two children, Sean and Elizabeth.[33] He was a Catholic.[34]

Death[edit]

Main article: 2024 Chikangawa Dornier 228 crash

On 10 June 2024, a Dornier 228 aircraft of the Malawi Defence Force carrying Chilima and eight others went missing in the Chikangawa Forest Reserve in the Northern Region while they were on their way to attend the funeral of former government minister Ralph Kasambara. President Lazarus Chakwera ordered a search and rescue operation after aviation officials were unable to contact the aircraft.[35] On 11 June 2024, in a national address, Chakwera stated that Chilima and all the other passengers on the plane (including a former First Lady of Malawi, Patricia Shanil Muluzi) were confirmed dead in the crash.[36]

After Chilima's body was recovered, a state funeral service was held for him at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on 16 June, during which at least 41,000 people attended.[37] He was buried on 17 June in his home village of Nsipe, in a ceremony that was also attended by Chakwera and former presidents Bakili Muluzi, Joyce Banda and Peter Mutharika.[38]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Saulos Chilima: Malawi vice-president who was plucked from business". www.bbc.com. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Profile of the Vice-President of the Republic of Malawi, Right Honourable Saulos Klaus Chilima". www.statehouse.mw. Archived from the original on 7 March 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  3. ^ "Search continues for missing aircraft carrying Malawi vice-president". Reuters. 11 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Saulos Chilima: Malawi vice-president confirmed dead in plane crash". www.bbc.com. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  5. ^ "'Are you Saulos Chilima?'". 11 February 2015. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  6. ^ "Saulos Chilima Family: All On Malawi's VP Wife Mary Chilima, Children And Parents". Times Now. 10 June 2024. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  7. ^ "VP inspires Mtendere Secondary School students". The Nation Online. 5 June 2017. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  8. ^ "Malawi President 'proud' of VP Chilima for attaining genuine doctorate degree". malawinewsnow.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  9. ^ a b c Mkwanda, Ayami (11 June 2024). "Chilima: A political go-getter, now rests". Nation Online. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  10. ^ "The State Vice President". www.malawi.gov.mw. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  11. ^ Dzida, Rick (12 July 2023). "What Political Future Holds for Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima? Malawi 24 | Latest News from Malawi". Malawi 24. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Meet Mutharika's runningmate Saulos Klaus Chilimaa: A great achiever at 40". malawivoice.com. 12 February 2014. Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  13. ^ "Meet Saulos Chilima, the DPP running mate". faceofmalawi.com. 10 February 2014. Archived from the original on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  14. ^ "Chilima is the chosen one – Hollywood star". 12 June 2018. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  15. ^ Omodiagbe, Conrad (6 February 2019). "Former Malawian President Joyce Banda Exits Coalition, Enters Election Race". The Election Network. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  16. ^ "MCP settles for Chilima: Deputy speaker Kazombo tells Chakwera to form alliance with UTM". Malawi Nyasa Times. 17 February 2020. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  17. ^ "Malawi president strips deputy of powers over graft". BBC News. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  18. ^ "The Malawi vice-president who was plucked from business". BBC News. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  19. ^ "Malawi's Vice-President Saulos Chilima charged with corruption". 25 November 2022. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  20. ^ "Malawi Vice-President Saulos Chilima's corruption charges dropped". www.bbc.com. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  21. ^ "MALAWI CABINET". www.malawihighcommission.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 March 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  22. ^ "Leadership Council". www.compact2025.org. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  23. ^ "Abdoulaye Bio Tchané & Saulos Klaus Chilima, Author at African Arguments". African Arguments. Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  24. ^ "THE ROLE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) IN AFRICA'S SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT: UNDERSTANDING THE CAPACITY CHALLENGES". www.acbf-pact.org. Archived from the original on 7 March 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  25. ^ "Fight hunger by educating farmers". Daily Monitor. Archived from the original on 21 June 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  26. ^ "Saulos Klaus Chilima – Missionaries of Africa – SAP Province". mafrsaprovince.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  27. ^ "Vice President Rt. Hon Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima joins #Be More Race". The Maravi Post. 26 July 2017. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  28. ^ "Revamp minority sports – Veep". Retrieved 6 March 2018.[permanent dead link]
  29. ^ "Chilima speaks tough on blind loyalty". Malawi 24. 28 February 2018. Archived from the original on 11 June 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  30. ^ "Chilima speaks on corruption". The Nation Online. 28 February 2018. Archived from the original on 21 July 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  31. ^ "News by topic :: Saulos Klaus Chilima". www.africanewshub.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  32. ^ "Malawi VP Chilima in Pre-Valentine Fundraising Dinner – Pleads With Catholics to 'Adopt a Seminary'". Nyasa Times (Leeds). 14 February 2018. Archived from the original on 7 March 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  33. ^ "Saulos Chilima: Malawi vice-president who was plucked from business". www.bbc.com. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  34. ^ "Malawi bishops mourn nation's Catholic vice president after he and 9 others die in plane crash | National Catholic Reporter". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  35. ^ "Aircraft carrying Malawi vice president goes missing". BBC. 10 June 2024. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  36. ^ "Malawi's Vice President Saulos Chilima, 9 Others Killed In Plane Crash". Times Now. 11 June 2024. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  37. ^ "Malawians pay tribute to vice-president killed in plane crash". BBC. 16 June 2024. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  38. ^ "Malawi's vice president laid to rest as president calls for an independent probe into his death". Associated Press. 18 June 2024. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
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