Governing Malawi Congress Party (MCP) National Executive Committee (Nec) Wednesday endorsed President Lazarus Chakwera as the party’s presidential candidate in the September 16 2025 presidential election,
Chakwera, who is the party’s leader, attended and chaired the Nec meeting at MCP headquarters in Lilongwe.
At the meeting, delegates discussed the party’s readiness for its convention, which is slated for August this year.
Party secretary general Eisenhower Mkaka said the meeting agreed to have Chakwera re-appear on the ballot in 2025, considering development initiatives he has implemented since he was elected as State President in the June 23 2020 court-ordered presidential election.
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“We, as Nec, have agreed that Dr Lazarus Chakwera is our [presidential] candidate come 2025. We have endorsed Chakwera for a second term and, actually, the position [for him to stand again] is very stronger [than ever] and this decision has been reinforced today.
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“MCP is so geared for the elections that it is our firm belief that because of what the President has done to this nation— we are talking about so many developments that are taking place, the changes that have taken place, looking at how the welfare of Malawians has been improved— the President is going to resoundingly be given another term,” Mkaka said.
He, however, maintained that the MCP Nec has not stopped any party member from standing against Chakwera, saying people are free to do so.
Chakwera, who went into the meeting around 8:00hours, came out around 12pm and was in jovial mood.
He was escorted out of the meeting room by some top government and party officials who chanted songs of praise for him.
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Still wearing a smiling face, Chakwera stepped out of the meeting and paused for a group photograph with the officials.
After the photo session, he remained behind for a few minutes, when he casually interacted with the members.
Thereafter, he left the premises.
Commenting on Nec’s decision, good governance expert Wonder Mkutche said this marks the fall of the Tonse Alliance as its main alliance partner, UTM, will be forced to look out for itself as well ahead of next year’s general elections.
“Now it is just a matter of time before MCP and UTM publicly part ways.
“On the other hand, if what State Vice President Saulos Chilima, who is also UTM’s president, claimed—that there was an agreement that he would contest on the ticket of the alliance next year— is true, then it is a stab in the back,” Mkutche said.
UTM spokesperson Felix Njawala said UTM could not comment on the issue because the endorsement has been done by the MCP Nec.
“We will comment when it’s the alliance making an endorsement but, for now, that’s their party business,” Njawala said.
Months ago, some MCP top officials also endorsed Chakwera as the party’s 2025 presidential candidate.
