Aleke’s son declares presidential ambition
Former diplomat Thokozani Manyika Banda, son to departed prominent politician Aleke Kadonaphani Banda, has declared his interest to vie for the presidency on an independent ticket in the September 16 2025 General Election.
Briefing the media in Lilongwe yesterday, he described himself as the best candidate to bail the country out of the many challenges it is facing.
Banda said the country’s economic challenges can be resolved by, among others, reducing expenditure and boosting export of Malawian products to earn more foreign exchange.
He said: “The norm is that most political platforms do not bother to address the basic needs of the majority of Malawians. Furthermore, with close to two-thirds of citizens being below the age of 35, it makes no sense that education, health and innovative job creation are not prioritised by successive administrations.”
Banda cautioned President Lazarus Chakwera to stop draining the little foreign exchange reserves available through foreign trips that could be delegated.
He said in 2013 he also expressed interest to contest for the presidency before pulling out, but was optimistic this time around he will take over the leadership mantle. He called on the young generation to support his agenda.
Said Banda: “Malawi needs to wipe out all recycled politicians from its political landscape and usher in a set of new politicians to win the fight against corruption and to achieve meaningful change.”
The presidential aspirant claimed that the political landscape in Malawi is dominated by corrupt individuals whose interests are not to transform the country but enrich themselves.
To ensure a fair business environment, transparency and accountability in the country, Banda proposed that politicians, civil society leaders and their associates should not be allowed to conduct any form of business enterprises.
His announcement comes months after economist Milward Tobias also said he will contest for the presidency in the 2025 elections on an independent ticket.
Tobias argued that having political parties in power promotes advanced stake and candidate capture because party gurus and supporters feel the president is obliged to give them special attention.
Political analyst George Phiri said such ideologies are ideal in dealing with issues of wastefulness in government, but said it would be difficult to implement them in Malawi unless people understand the meaning of State and president capture.
Born in 1964, Banda served as a senior diplomat to Japan and other Asian nations, Germany, the World Trade Organisation and neighbouring European nations.
He went into exile in 1986 while his father was in political detention and was granted political asylum in the United States. Four years later, he graduated with a political science degree from The College of Wooster in Ohio.
Malawi Electoral Commission at the weekend released the election calendar which shows that candidates are expected to present their nomination papers between April and June 2025.
