Ohava Ohava Thapella
Vice President Dr. Michael Usi is at the centre of a growing storm after what insiders are calling a “shocking display of political arrogance” at the funeral of Alex Mulli in Phalombe.
According to multiple sources close to the family, Dr. Usi, who attended the ceremony as a representative of President Lazarus Chakwera, was not on the official list of speakers. Yet, in an unexpected twist, he reportedly pressured organisers to grant him a speaking slot — in what many are now describing as a calculated political ambush at a solemn event.
Sources say the drama began when Dr. Usi took issue with the Master of Ceremonies, who had referred to him solely as the Vice President of the Republic. Visibly agitated, Usi is said to have insisted that the MC also recognize him as “President of Odya Zake Alibe Mulandu,” a relatively new political movement he leads.
“He made it very clear that the name of his party had to be mentioned — loud and clear,” said one insider, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “It was less about paying tribute and more about branding himself.”
The situation escalated following a sermon by Reverend Dr. Billy Gama, who referenced the now-viral public encounter between Dr. Usi and Dr. Dalitso Kabambe — a former UTM member turned DPP presidential hopeful. Reverend Gama appeared to suggest that Dr. Usi had left UTM voluntarily.
But Usi, clearly irked by the comment, demanded the microphone and corrected the clergyman on the spot. “I didn’t leave UTM. I was thrown out,” he declared, turning sharply to face UTM spokesperson Felix Njawala, who was in attendance. The moment, according to observers, was awkward, confrontational, and utterly inappropriate for a funeral setting.
“It was cringeworthy,” said a family member. “People came to mourn, not to witness political infighting.”
The same family member revealed that Usi’s conduct was a key point of discussion during a Sunday family debrief marking the end of official mourning. While concerns were raised, the issue was reportedly played down by businessman Leston Mulli, the younger brother of the deceased, in what some interpreted as an effort to avoid public scandal.
In a related twist, UTM’s outspoken official Patricia Kaliati stirred further controversy on Sunday by claiming at a rally that Usi had apologized to Kabambe and was seeking to return to UTM. But her statement was swiftly dismissed as “outright lies” by the Odya Zake Alibe Mulandu movement’s spokesperson, Happy Kondowe.
Despite contributing K2.5 million towards funeral expenses, Usi’s actions at the burial have left a bitter taste in the mouths of many — with critics accusing him of hijacking a private moment of grief to push personal and political agendas.
As one observer put it: “What was meant to be a dignified farewell turned into a campaign rally — and the Vice President was the ringmaster.”
Malawi Cables
