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Top comedian-turned-politician Micheal Usi has been sworn in as Malawi’s vice-president at a ceremony held in parliament in the capital, Lilongwe. The 55-year-old replaces Saulos Chilima, who died in a plane crash earlier this month, along with eight other people.
Top comedian-turned-politician Micheal Usi has been sworn in as Malawi’s vice-president at a ceremony held in parliament in the capital, Lilongwe. The 55-year-old replaces Saulos Chilima, who died in a plane crash earlier this month, along with eight other people.
Dr Usi received a standing ovation when he spoke after his inauguration, saying he accepted the role with a mixture of sadness and gratitude. He promised to honour his predecessor’s memory and thanked President Lazarus Chakwera for believing in him as he took up his position as vice president in the power-sharing government.
Dr Usi is no stranger to controversy given his acting career. He is popularly known as “Manganya”, the name of a mischievous character he still plays in the popular TV sitcom Tikuferanji. He has been a staple on national radio and television for more than two decades making him one of the most recognisable local celebrities.
Such was his popularity as a comedian that when he founded a political movement around seven years ago – many people just thought it was a prank. His appointment has certainly left Malawians divided. Some have been sharing clips of his acting career on social media and questioning whether he is serious enough to take up such a senior role. Others however have praised President Chakwera for appointing Chilima’s party deputy and honouring the spirit of the alliance between their two parties.
This is because he had a reputation as a trickster – his most famous ruse was fooling people into believing that he had been a good boxer at high school and was looking to return to the ring.
He organised a non-title bout against a leading local boxer. A huge crowd turned up for what they thought was a real boxing match, only to discover it was a scene in one of his television plays. However, it turned out his political ambitions were real. His movement was called Odya zake alibe Mulandu, which loosely translates as “he who does not take what belongs to others but only eats what’s his is a free man.
It soon became part of a newly formed political party, the UTM, headed by Dr Chilima.This was ahead of the 2019 elections – and Dr Usi and Dr Chilima started addressing rallies together. Both being highly eloquent speakers, their meetings often drew huge crowds and in February 2019, Chilima named his new political associate as his running mate for the vote
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Dr Usi has also been a passionate advocate for developing and promoting Malawi’s film industry in which it is difficult to make a living. He first funded his acting career by working as a hospital clinician. He has a qualification in clinical medicine – most patients in Malawi will be seen by a clinician as the country has a shortage of doctors.
