The race for the State House officially starts today, when the Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) is expected to blow the whistle, marking the official launch of the September 16, 2025 Local Government, Parliamentary and Presidential Elections campaign period.
It is a race to, for the next five years, become the controller of the public purse, commander-in-chief of the Malawi Defence Force (MDF), the appointing authority in Malawi and chancellor of all public universities in Malawi, among other coveted roles.
The stakes are, therefore, high.
Just like in any other election, there will be diehards and blind loyalists who cannot be moved, no matter the campaign promises, as well as undecided voters. These are people who wait to hear what each candidate is promising before placing a bet on one.
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These are the two groups of people political parties will be fighting for during the campaign period.
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According to Mec, as of Friday, 17 people had shown interest in the high office of the land by collecting nomination papers.
Among the 17 are President Lazarus Chakwera of the governing Malawi Congress Party, Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Dalitso Kabambe of UTM Party, former president Joyce Banda of the People’s Party (PP), Atupele Muluzi of the United Democratic Front (UDF) and Enoch Kamzingeni Chihana of Alliance for Democracy (Aford).
Others are Daniel Dube of National Patriotic Party (NPP), Milward Tobias, independent; Adil James Chilungo, independent; Kondwani Nankhumwa of People’s Development Party (PDP); Akwame Bandawe of Anyamata, Atsikana, Azimayi (AAA); Reverend Hardwick Kaliya, independent; Frank Mwenifumbo of National Development Party (NDP); and Kamuzu Chibambo of People’s Transformation Party (Petra).
Others are independent candidate Smart Swira, independent; David Mbewe of Liberation for Economic Freedom Party (LEFP); Cassim Chilumpha of Assembly for Democracy and Development (ADD), and; Cosmas Felix Chipojola, independent.
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In an interview at the weekend, political parties indicated that they were more than ready for the campaign.
MCP secretary general Richard Chimwendo Banda said the governing party had put some pillars that would guide its campaign for its candidate, President Lazarus Chakwera, to maintain power.
Chimwendo Banda said with this level of momentum, Chakwera would undoubtedly win his second term in a landslide by securing 50-percent-plus-one percent of the votes in the first round.
“Only those oblivious to the dynamics of Malawian politics would doubt his victory. He will win his second term based on his vision and policies.
“Just wait for the day when MCP will launch its campaign and the whole country will be turned upside down and, later, you will see a carnival of defections to the ruling party because, to us, the stark contrast is very clear that we want to continue to unlock Malawi’s potential and attract meaningful growth and sustainable development.
“In short, we are ready for the showdown and we urge the youth to get involved because their future is in MCP [‘s hands] rather than the opposition,” Chimwendo Banda said.
He said there were many reasons why Chakwera would win the forthcoming elections, citing infrastructure development, economic performance and inclusive governance; youth and women empowerment; agriculture revolution and development and; fighting corruption from top to bottom as some of the factors that are putting Chakwera ahead of the pack.
“President Dr Lazarus Chakwera and his MCP government have commissioned several dualised, ancillary roads across the country which, we believe, will translate into inclusive economic growth and sustainable development.
“These roads will make every society connected, every business to thrive and every Malawian to enjoy a life of dignity and opportunity. Our resolve remains to transform a route of frustration into a corridor of opportunity as these dualised roads and upgraded road networks will not only ease traffic congestion; they will also breathe new life into economic activities, improve access to education and healthcare, and uplift the overall quality of life for every Malawian,” Chimwendo Banda said.
He added that the MCP administration had taken a giant and bold step in our nation’s journey of economic opportunity, stability and progress.
“We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to secure and rebuild prosperity and ensure that every Malawian shares in the dividends of every nickel, rooted in rule of law and inclusive governance.
“Yes, we understand that many families are going through tough times, in terms of the economy. That is not a secret. But every journey to prosperity requires pains to meet gains. These past years have tested our resolve but, through our economic discipline and long-term reforms, we have achieved many [things that others] deemed impossible,” he said.
On his part, UTM president Kabambe said his party was more than ready for the 60-day campaign period.
He observed that the party would open its campaign on Sunday [yesterday] “with a very big rally”.
“We are flat out. We are extremely ready. We will fight and form the next government,” Kabambe said.
On his part, DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba said his party was more than prepared for the campaign period.
“We have been fully prepared for a while now. Let the elections come. With APM [Arthur Peter Mutharika] as our presidential candidate, we are confident in our chances of victory—with over 70 percent of the vote.
“Keep your eyes open as we reveal our manifesto,” Namalomba said.
People’s Party secretary general Ben Chakhame said his party was ready for the campaign as it is an activity that they were expecting
Chakhame said their candidate, Joyce Banda, has a unique appeal over the rest of the candidates because she is the only woman in the race.
“As such, Malawians have a single choice if we are to have a female president.
“The other strength is that she has been State president before and the time she was taking up the mantle, Malawi was facing challenges as we are facing now—challenges she solved.
“So, Malawians have a chance that a proven economic engineer in the name of JB is among the candidates. I can, therefore, conclude that she has a better chance over others,” Chakhame said.
Political analyst Chimwemwe Tsitsi said there are always undecided voters in every election, adding that some may even decide on preferred candidate at the very end of the campaign period.
“Such people are obviously not that many and far less than those who have already decided who to vote for, but they are still quite a good number until we reach a certain stage in the electoral process, namely presentation of nomination papers.
“For me, once the presentation of nomination papers is over, when it is clear on who is the running mate for who, most of the undecided voters will now seriously come closer to deciding who to vote for, with some finalising that decision once they attend, follow [via social media] or watch [on television] a number of rallies of the pair they would have been more initially attracted to once the running mate for each candidate is known,” Tsitsi said.
He added that Malawians should also not forget that some undecided voters may be in form of people who do not believe that a particular candidate they would have settled for would win the election and that such people may become decided voters once an assurance on that candidate’s possible victory is there through the scenario of that candidate’s party going into an alliance with another party/parties or being endorsed by other candidates who eventually withdraw from the race or being endorsed by other groups such as faith leaders –you know what pastoral letters do sometimes—or just becoming convinced by such a candidate’s support from potential voters through large turnouts at his/her political rallies.
“So, there are still a number of factors that would make some voters to decide on who to vote for at this stage, much as many of those who registered to vote may have already settled [for a candidate] to vote for. For me, among these factors, the key ones are the running mate choices as well as the possible electoral alliances that may emerge in the remaining period to the polls.
“And we should also know that much as campaigning is aimed at wooing undecided voters, it also plays a key role in reinforcing one’s support. That’s why candidates and political parties mostly concentrate on their support bases, apart from areas where they feel there are a lot of undecided voters, and least in their opponents’ support bases,” he said.
Another political analyst, George Chaima, said although official campaign begins today, most of the political parties remained in disarray.
Chaima said most political parties have no sense of where to go and how to reach their campaign destination.
“Their indecisive and disorganised plans have also left voters undecided and without proper direction.
“The determination of leadership also contributes to [the] determination of voters. Unfortunately, voters, too, don’t know their next leader due to the failure of parties to organise themselves into winning alliances in compliance with the 50 percent-plus-one [requirement],” Chaima said.
Figures released by Mec on Friday revealed that a total of 7,203,490 people are registered to cast their votes on September 16.
The elections will also see Malawians electing lawmakers and ward councillors.
