One of the most prominent figures in the opposition UTM, Patricia Kaliyati, on Tuesday appeared in the Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court, but what stood out even more than the serious accusations leveled against her was the deafening silence and absence of officials and supporters of her own party.
Kaliyati is facing charges of allegedly conspiring to assassinate President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera.
In a surprising turn, not a single senior UTM official, including the President Dr Dalitso Kabambe, her fellow presidential advisors such as Newton Kambala, Joseph Chidanti Malunga, Annie Makuta and Dr Matthews Mtumbuka were present to offer moral or political support. Even the usually vocal UTM supporters who are always in their red attire given moral support to their own during such times, were not there.
This is a stark contrast to previous instances where high-profile party members have been shown solidarity during politically sensitive court appearances.
One observer at the court was quick to notice the no-show, interpreting it as a sign that Kaliyati’s standing within UTM might be crumbling. “This silence is too loud to ignore,” he said. “It suggests that something is not right between Kaliyati and the UTM leadership. Either the party is distancing itself from her, or internal fractures are deeper than previously thought.”
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the State paraded two witnesses—McLucky Kamphandila and Chikumbutso Doba—who claimed that Kaliyati had expressed fears over a woman named Angella, who she believed was threatening her.
According to one of the witnesses Doba, when he visited Kaliyati’s residence, he encountered Angella leaving the premises, flanked by masked men, raising suspicion of sinister dealings.
Doba further testified that Kaliyati linked Angella to a group allegedly involved in coordinating behind-the-scenes maneuvers related to the long-standing case of former Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima.
The witness claimed Kaliyati said Angella and her associates were upset with delays in securing a transition of power from President Chakwera to Chilima, which they allegedly believed was agreed upon but never honored.
The court has since adjourned the hearing to 26th and 27th May, when 13 more witnesses are expected to testify for the State.
Kaliyati was arrested in October last year after a brief police investigation and held in custody for several days before being released on bail. The charges stem from an alleged plot involving supernatural practices, a bid to influence political fortunes, and, ultimately, a conspiracy to eliminate President Chakwera in favor of Vice President Chilima.
The no-show for the UTM at the court confirms speculations that Kaliyati may have fallen out of favor with the party’s inner circle. While no official statement has been made by UTM, the absence is seen as symbolic—possibly reflecting a deliberate move to distance the party from the sensitive and damaging case.
Political insiders suggest that Kaliyati’s bold and often confrontational style may have isolated her within the party. Others believe that the party is simply being cautious, waiting to see how the case unfolds before taking a clear position.
Whatever the reason, Tuesday’s court appearance was a lonely moment for a woman once at the forefront of UTM’s political machinery. Whether this signals the beginning of her political isolation or a temporary strategic retreat by the party remains to be seen.
