By Pemphero Malimba:
Some Malawi Congress Party (MCP) leaders have rallied behind party president Lazarus Chakwera, urging those seeking to replace him to back off.
The call was made during a political rally organised by Lilongwe Chilobwe legislator Lawrence Chakakala Chaziya at Malembo Primary School grounds in Lilongwe on Sunday.
Chaziya accused some MCP members of receiving funds intended to remove Chakwera from the party presidency.
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“One president sits on the throne at once. This time is for Dr Lazarus Chakwera up until 2029, when we will have our elective convention,” Chaziya said.
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He said Richard Chimwendo Banda should remain Secretary General until 2029.
“Moses Kunkuyu is the National Campaign Director and Steven Malondera is the Director of Youth. Let them be,” he said.
Chaziya also urged MCP members to remain united, saying the party was preparing to return to power in the 2030 general election.
Before the rally, he commissioned several projects that he said he had financed personally, including a waiting home for expectant mothers at Malembo Health Centre, a girls’ hostel at Malembo Community Day Secondary School and a house for an agricultural extension worker.
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MCP Director of Youth Steven Malondera said Chakwera was rebuilding the party ahead of the 2030 general election.
He said the party would soon hold elections for area, constituency, district and regional leaders as part of the rebuilding process.
Malondera attributed the party’s defeat in the 16 September 2025 presidential election to greed among some MCP leaders.
“Chakwera was a gift to Malawi. But the stupidity of some people who surrounded Chakwera cost us the leadership of this country,” he said.
Traditional Authority Malembo commended Chaziya for implementing development projects in the area and said more initiatives were needed to improve people’s livelihoods.
Chakwera has led the MCP since 2013. He lost last year’s presidential election to incumbent Peter Mutharika, whom he had defeated in the court-sanctioned presidential re-run in June 2020.
