In a historic moment for Malawi, President Lazarus Chakwera has appointed Micheal Usi, a figure best known for his comedic persona “Manganya,” as the country’s vice president.
The 55-year-old succeeds the late Saulos Chilima whose untimely passing in a plane crash early this month left a void in the country’s leadership.
Usi’s background is as varied as it is impressive.
The eloquent Usi began his career as a hospital clinician, a role that fuelled his desire to serve and improve the lives of the underprivileged.
Prior to entering politics, he worked for the charity Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) where he rose to become country director.
Under his leadership ADRA funded various soaps on radio and TV that sought to educate people about HIV and other social issues.
Despite his serious work, Usi maintained a successful career in entertainment, becoming one of Malawi’s most recognisable faces through his character “Manganya” in the TV sitcom Tikuferanji and other productions in the local Chichewa language.
Usi’s political journey began about seven years ago with the founding of a movement that joined forces with the United Transformation Movement (UTM) party led by Chilima.
He was appointed tourism, culture and wildlife minister when the Tonse Alliance between UTM and Chakwera’s Malawi Congress Party came to power in July 2020, before becoming natural resources minister in February 2023, a position he held until his elevation to vice president.
However, despite being a government minister, he has until now continued his work on the sitcom, with aides saying he filmed a new episode as late as two weeks ago.
The father of two holds a PhD in youth development from the University of Bedfordshire, showcasing his commitment to the advancement of Malawi’s younger generation.
As vice president, Usi promises to honour his predecessor’s memory and uphold the Tonse alliance between the UTM party and Chakwera’s administration.
His multi-faceted experience and dedication to both entertainment and social advocacy position him as a unique figure in Malawi’s political landscape, poised to bring a fresh perspective to the nation’s governance.
JN/APA