The the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) and UTM have denounced the “systematic degradation” of the Office of the State Vice President, Jane Ansah.
In separate statements, the two parties said the current administration is consumed by internal conflict within the Executive, creating confusion, inefficiency, and unnecessary costs borne by already struggling Malawians.
They have called on President Arthur Peter Mutharika to act not as a party leader weighing political risks, but as a President bound by oath to protect and defend the Constitution.
“This is not a partisan issue but a constitutional matter, stressing the Constitution is not subject to the convenience of those in power. Any attempts to undermine her office through underfunding, withdrawal of security, public humiliation, or irregular assumption of constitutional functions are seen as direct violations of the Constitution,” reads the UDF statement signed by its Secretary General, Genarino Lemani.
On the other hand, UTM secretary general Willet Karonga said when the office of the vice president is deliberately undermined or rendered ineffective, it is not only a political issue, it is a direct misuse of public resources.
“We have observed a pattern of systematic mistreatment, including underfunding, withdrawal of security, and public humiliation. Most recently, the Vice President was prevented from performing her constitutional duty of seeing off the President at the airport, a standard protocol when the President travels and delegated authority transfers to the Vice President.
“Instead, this role was irregularly assumed by the Chief Secretary, undermining both protocol and constitutional order. This pattern is not new. Similar treatment has been meted at previous Vice Presidents, including Rt Hon Dr Cassim Chilumpha, Her Excellency Joyce Banda, and our former Party President Rt Hon Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima.
“The continued erosion of this office under successive administrations reflects a troubling disregard for constitutional order. UTM strongly condemns this conduct. We call upon all state institutions and security agencies to uphold the Constitution by according the Vice President the respect, protection, and support her office demands.
“Let it be clear: any individual or group undermining the Vice President will be held accountable for actions that threaten her safety or the integrity of constitutional order,” he said
The party has called upon Mutharika to guarantee a safe and enabling environment for the Vice President to discharge her responsibilities, in line with his oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi.
