Lead comedian-turned-politician Micheal Usi has been sworn as Malawi’s vice-president at a rite held in parliament within the capital, Lilongwe.

The 55-year-old replaces Saulos Chilima, who died in a airplane collision previous this hour, together with 8 alternative family.

Dr Usi gained a status ovation when he spoke upcoming his settingup, pronouncing he permitted the function with a mix of disappointment and gratitude.

He promised to praise his predecessor’s reminiscence and thanked President Lazarus Chakwera for believing in him as he is taking up his place as vice-president within the power-sharing executive.

His appointment has undoubtedly left Malawians divided.

Some were sharing clips of his performing profession on social media and wondering whether or not he’s severe plethora to take in this type of senior function.

Others then again have praised President Chakwera for appointing Chilima’s birthday party deputy and honouring the spirit of the alliance between their two events.

Dr Usi is not any stranger to controversy given his performing profession. He’s popularly referred to as “Manganya”, the identify of a ingenious persona he nonetheless performs in prevailing TV sitcom Tikuferanji.

His aide informed the BBC on Friday that he was once filming an episode as just lately as endmost era.

He has been a staple on nationwide radio and tv for greater than 20 years making him one of the recognisable native celebrities.

Dr Usi has additionally been a passionate recommend for creating and selling Malawi’s movie trade wherein it’s tough to put together a residing.

Actually, he first funded his performing profession by way of operating as a sanatorium clinician. He has a qualification in medical drugs – maximum sufferers in Malawi will probably be noticeable by way of a clinician as the rustic has a lack of docs.

This fuelled his interest to make stronger the dozen of needy communities and for a few years he labored at Adventist Building and Vacation Company (Adra), a Christian non-governmental organisation.

He served there in numerous capacities, together with heading the organisation as its nation director – and thru him Adra funded numerous soaps on radio and TV that still aimed to coach family about HIV and alternative social problems.

The brandnew vice-president, who’s married with two daughters, additionally holds a PhD in early life building from the College of Bedfordshire in the United Kingdom.

Regardless of his place at Adra, his performing profession by no means took a backseat – and he was once taking part in numerous productions, most commonly within the native Chichewa language.

Such was once his recognition as a comic that after he based a political motion round seven years in the past – many family simply concept it was once a prank.

It is because he had a name as a trickster – his most renowned ruse was once fooling family into believing that he were a excellent boxer at highschool and was once taking a look to go back to the hoop.

He organised a non-title bout towards a chief native boxer. A profusion public grew to become up for what they concept was once an actual boxing fit, most effective to find it was once a scene in one among his tv performs.

On the other hand, it grew to become out his political ambitions have been actual. His motion was once known as Odya zake alibe Mulandu, which loosely interprets as “he who does now not pull what belongs to others however most effective eats what’s his is a separate guy”.

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.

The pair came third, but the results were then nullified by the high court because of irregularities.

In fresh elections that were held in 2020, the UTM joined eight other opposition political parties to form an electoral alliance, which picked Dr Chakwera as presidential candidate with Dr Chilima as the running mate, which went on to victory.

Dr Usi, was by this stage Chilima’s deputy and was named in cabinet as minister of tourism, culture and wildlife, a position he held between July 2020 and February 2023.

He later moved to become the minister of natural resources and climate change, his role until his elevation to vice-president.

Some senior members of the UTM were notable by their absence at his inauguration on Friday – signalling division in the party over his appointment.

Dr Usi didn’t evade the problem at his swearing-in, promising to get the birthday party in combination in order that they may heal and praise the legacy of Chilima, who was once considered a magnetic baby-kisser with a unique reference to family, particularly the early life.