By Mercy Matonga:
Political parties whose leaders have collected nomination papers to contest in the September 16, 2025 Local Government, Parliamentary and Presidential Elections say they are still open to electoral alliances.
So far, the United Democratic Front (UDF), People’s Party (PP), Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and People’s Development Party (PDP) have paid for, and collected, nomination papers.
Speaking to The Daily Times, MCP secretary general Richard Chimwendo Banda said the party was open to working with any institution or political party that prioritises the interests of Malawians.
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“MCP is a political party that would like to work with any other institution or party that has the best interests of Malawians at heart and wants to move Malawi forward,” Chimwendo Banda said.
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On his part, UDF spokesperson Dyson Jangiya said collecting nomination papers was an indication that the party was serious about contesting in the upcoming elections, but was quick to say they remained open to discussions.
“The collection of nomination papers also signals that we are dismissing all rumours suggesting the party is already in an alliance. We are still open, and once we find serious partners, we will form an alliance,” Jangiya said.
On his part, PP secretary general Ben Chakhame said the party was already part of an alliance.
He could, however, not share further details.
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“We are in an alliance,” Chakhame said.
PDP spokesperson Rhodes Msonkho was yet to comment on the party’s position.
Professor Boniface Dulani, a renowned political scientist and Director of Surveys for Afrobarometer, told The Daily Times that while there was nothing wrong with a party being confident in its chances at the ballot, recent political polls suggest that the likelihood of one party securing an outright victory were slim.
“Recall that in the 2022 Afrobarometer survey, MCP was trailing behind the DPP, which itself was not garnering a clear majority. That said, MCP might be banking on the presidential contest going to a second round, where new alliances can be built even after going into the first round alone.
“However, there’s nothing wrong with a party having enough confidence to believe it can win the election without forming an alliance,” Dulani said.
On his part, political analyst Wonderful Mkhutche suggested that the DPP’s public overtures show a desire to begin forming alliances early, while the MCP’s stance may reflect a desire to first organise its internal affairs.
“MCP will have to work hard to win, considering the current political landscape where the main opposition DPP is banking on MCP’s shortcomings and working to consolidate opposition voices. PP is likely to work with MCP; it left the previous alliance to renegotiate the terms in its own interest,” Mkhutche said.
During the June 23, 2020 court-ordered presidential election, President Lazarus Chakwera defeated Peter Mutharika by a margin of 59 percent to 40 percent, with MCP having formed an alliance with UTM and eight other political parties.
