President Lazarus Chakwera boasted Sunday that honest Malawians recognise his achievements and will grant him another five-year term to lead the country in the 2025 elections.
Chakwera was speaking in Area 24, Lilongwe, during the first political rally he addressed since he was elected unopposed at the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) convention to lead the party in the polls.
He charged that, while some critics are attempting to discredit his performance, genuine Malawians understand that he has delivered.
The President highlighted what he described as durable, state-of-the-art roads across the country as some of the hallmarks of his purported effective leadership.
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He added that honest Malawians are aware that he has revived the railway system, which had been inactive for many years and has also revamped the National Economic Empowerment Fund loans scheme, which is benefiting “hundreds of thousands of Malawians”.
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“Honest Malawians know that I am responsible for increasing the Constituency Development Fund from K30 million to K200 million to ensure that development is spread across the country,” the President said.
He also claimed to have revitalised the economy, although critics suggest Malawi is experiencing some of the worst economic conditions in recent memory.
Chakwera then mentioned that only honest Malawians can testify to his efforts in distributing maize to assist those affected by the dry spell that impacted crop production last year.
During the rally, Chakwera welcomed several officials into MCP, including Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) former secretary general (SG) Grezelder Jeffrey, former presidential advisor Hetherwick Ntaba, Sheikh Imran Mtenje, and DPP former deputy director of legal affairs Oscar Taulo.
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MCP SG Richard Chimwendo Banda said the party is committed to promoting women.
He reiterated that, while no other party has appointed a female vice president, MCP has Catherine Gotani Hara as its first vice president and Abida Mia as its second vice president.
Chimwendo Banda also bragged that even if DPP forms alliances with “smaller parties”, it will never again rule Malawi.
For the 2025 elections, the 50 percent plus one vote rule will apply, a scenario which observers argue will require political parties to form alliances, as no single party is likely to secure that vote on its own.
MCP, however, insists that it will go solo and is determined to retain government without the support of other parties.
