Torchbearer for the United Transformation Movement (UTM), Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Lazarus Chakwera has described the state vice president Saulos Chilima as the God-given gift.

Chakwera said this on Wednesday morning at Mount Soche Hotel when he presented his presidential nomination papers.

According to Chakwera for the past years vice presidents have been denied all the respect they needed as they were being ill-treated by presidents.

“For 26 years, Malawi’s Vice-Presidents have been mistreated, underutilized, harassed, and slandered, but God has given us Dr. Chilima,” recalled Chilima.

But Chilima through his courage has “confronted this disease and answered the call to cure it on behalf of all Malawians,” said Chakwera as he announced Chilima as his running-mate in the fresh presidential elections slated for July 2, this year.

The hopeful presidential candidate added that the alliance is composed of partners in the of Malawi and candidate and running-mate.

“This dream of a New Malawi is what binds us together. It is what has brought me and Saulos together, not as rivals, and not even as candidate and Running-mate, but as partners in the service of Malawi,” Chakwera pointed out.