President Peter Mutharika has appointed former Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya to head the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Election Observer Mission (Seom) for the Tanzania general election on October 29 2025.
Writing on his Facebook page yesterday, Minister of Foreign Affairs George Chaponda said President Mutharika made the appointment in his capacity as chairperson of the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
Tanzania: Msowoya. | Nation
He said: “Msowoya is a man of integrity and dedication; qualities that have earned him the confidence and trust of the President to lead such an important regional assignment.
“Malawi takes pride in his appointment, as it reflects the country’s growing leadership role within the Sadc region.”
Speaking in an interview yesterday, Chaponda said Mutharika has made the appointment because of Msowoya’s track record.
“He [Msowoya] demonstrated diligence and commitment in the way he handled his job in Parliament. And we believe that with the same diligence, he will not disappoint the nation when he carries out the Seom job,” he said.
Msowoya, who served as Speaker from 2014 to 2019, was yet to respond to our questionnaire by press time at 8pm yesterday.
In October 2018, Msowoya, then member of Parliament for Karonga Nyungwe Constituency, said he would not contest in the May 21 2019 Tripartite Election and would instead pass the mantle to his daughter Luwani.
He was elected MP in the May 2014 Tripartite Elections and on June 16 2014 he was elected Speaker of Parliament after amassing 101 votes against 89 for Francis Kasaila of Democratic Progressive Party.
Msowoya was also running mate of former president Lazarus Chakwera, who was Malawi Congress Party’s (MCP) presidential candidate in the May 2014 General Election.
In July 2018, he resigned from MCP and later announced that he had joined UTM Party which was then being led by Saulos Chilima.
Reacting to the appointment, Civil Society Elections Integrity Forum chairperson Benedicto Kondowe said the appointment speaks volumes about Malawi’s growing stature and leadership within the Sadc region.
He said Msowoya’s selection is both strategic and symbolic as it reflects confidence in Malawi’s democratic credentials and capacity to contribute meaningfully to regional governance processes.
“His extensive parliamentary experience and integrity make him well-suited to lead such a critical mission, particularly as Tanzania prepares for a high-stakes general election.
“Importantly, this appointment also reflects President Mutharika’s vision for an inclusive government that values expertise and merit, drawing on the strengths of distinguished Malawians regardless of political affiliation,” said Kondowe.
During the forthcoming general election, Tanzanians will elect a president, MPs and ward councillors.
Seom was also deployed in Malawi last month to observe the country’s pre-election phase, polling day, and post-processes to assess the conduct of the elections in line with the principles and guidelines that promote regular, free, fair, transparent, credible, and peaceful democratic elections.
