By Lilongwe, Malawi – Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera has secured the backing of his party, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), for a second term bid in next year’s election. However, his prospects for re-election could be uncertain, largely depending on the MCP’s ability to find a strong alliance partner following recent political shifts.
The MCP, which had been in an electoral alliance with the United Transformation Movement (UTM) since 2020, now faces a significant challenge after the UTM announced its withdrawal from the partnership. The decision followed the tragic death of former Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima, the leader of the UTM, in a plane crash in June.
Chilima’s leadership was instrumental in helping Chakwera secure an absolute majority in the 2020 election. Malawi’s political system requires a presidential candidate to secure more than 50% of the votes to be declared the winner, a threshold that could prove difficult for Chakwera to achieve without the UTM’s support.
Addressing delegates at the MCP convention, which endorsed his bid for a second term, Chakwera expressed confidence that his party’s support has strengthened since the last election. “This is no ordinary convention because it is the convention of the party that will win in 2025,” Chakwera declared in his speech on Thursday.
“We are growing in strength every day as more people from other parties join us, as the MCP’s founding families remain here, and as those who left the party are returning,” he added, signaling a renewed optimism within the party despite the recent setbacks.
The MCP, established by Malawi’s first president, Hastings Kamuzu Banda, is one of the oldest political parties in the country. After 26 years in opposition, the party returned to power in 2020 with promises to tackle corruption and revitalize the economy. However, opposition parties have criticized the MCP for not delivering on its promises, especially as the economic situation remains fragile.
Chakwera’s main challenger in the upcoming election is expected to be former President Peter Mutharika, who is likely to receive the nomination of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) at their convention later this month. The impending battle between Chakwera and Mutharika is set to be a defining moment in Malawi’s political landscape, with both leaders vying for control over the country’s future.
As the election approaches, the MCP will need to consolidate its support base and possibly seek new alliances to bolster its chances of securing a second term for Chakwera. The political dynamics in Malawi are shifting, and the outcome of the 2025 election remains highly unpredictable.
