President Lazarus Chakwera yesterday unveiled Minister of Trade and Industry Vitumbiko Mumba as his running mate in the September 16 General Election, breaking his tradition of picking the party’s first vice-president.
Explaining his decision after presenting nomination papers to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), the President said he selected Mumba—who earlier resigned from MCP national executive committee (NEC) citing non-acceptance by some NEC members—because of his appeal to the youth and his potential to drive public sector reforms.
During his maiden presidential bid in 2014, Chakwera picked then MCP first deputy president Richard Msowoya as running mate while in the court-annulled 2019 election he settled for first deputy president the late Mohammed Sidik Mia. Both were unveiled more than a month before submission of nomination papers.
On the other hand, in the court-sanctioned fresh presidential election in June 2020 Chakwera partnered UTM Party leader and the country’s Vice-President at the time Saulos Chilima under the Tonse Alliance platform.
“When we talk about public sector reforms, Vitumbiko Mumba will help accelerate progress in that area. I could say more, but I will stop here,” he said.
Chakwera’s reasoning mirrors that of his predecessor-turned-challenger in the upcoming elections Peter Mutharika who in 2014 picked the late Chilima, then 41, as running mate for similar reasons.
The President expressed confidence that Mumba would garner full support from MCP members and Malawians at large.
“I can assure you that Mumba will receive support from the MCP. My choice will benefit the party. A difference in opinion or approach should not be mistaken for a lack of unity,” he said, responding to concerns about a backlash against his decision.
Prior to the unveiling of Mumba, speculators tipped MCP first deputy president and former Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara to be Chakwera’s choice as per the party’s tradition.
Those who ruled out Mumba cited his perceived bad blood with some MCP heavyweights as a potential barrier to his ascendancy to the running mate role.
In a televised interview, MCP secretary general Richard Chimwendo Banda disputed suggestions that there was a rift between senior party members, including himself, and Mumba.
“These things happen in every party. Just because we were taken to court over primaries [in Mzimba Central] doesn’t mean we are enemies. Mumba is a brother and friend. He visits my home and I visit his. We are united as a party,” he said.
Mumba’s name was widely mentioned shortly before Chakwera’s arrival at Bingu International Convention Centre, including by MCP second deputy president Abida Mia in a Nation Online live stream.
“We have heard it is Hon. Vitumbiko Mumba. We are very happy and ready to support him,” she said.
Chakwera arrived aboard an open vehicle flanked by Hara and Mumba, enhancing the speculation further.
Earlier yesterday, the President posted on his Facebook page a picture showing him holding hands with Hara, Chimwendo Banda and Mumba, the only one not in NEC.
In August last year, Mumba lost the race for the party’s first deputy presidency to Hara, but was later co-opted into the party’s executive and appointed Minister of Labour. However, he later resigned from the NEC post.
Coincidentally, like Chilima in 2014, Mumba becomes running mate at 41.
By selecting a candidate from the Northern Region, Chakwera joins other presidential hopefuls who have done the same, notably UTM’s Dalitso Kabambe and People’s Party’s Joyce Banda who have picked Mathews Mtumbuka and former vice-president Khumbo Kachali, respectively.
The North, where no political party can claim a foothold since 1994-2004 when Chakufwa Chihana’s Alliance for Democracy was the dominant force in the region, has become kingmaker with its unpredictable voting patterns in recent years.
Mumba and Kachali hail from Mzimba District, which contributes over 60 percent of the Northern Region’s estimated 800 000 registered voters.
However, political analyst Joseph Chunga cautioned that choosing a running mate from the North does not necessarily guarantee votes.
“The North is not like the Central or Southern regions where some parties enjoy relative dominance. There is no single power broker there, so votes can swing in any direction,” he said.
Chakwera was the 20th presidential aspirant to present nomination papers during MEC’s designated seven-day window. Originally, 22 candidates were listed, but Cassim Chilumpha of Assembly for Democracy and Development and Dalitso Chauluka of People’s Progressive Party withdrew.
