Parties gear up for 2025

Election fever is in the air as political parties in the country are busy strategising ahead of the September 16 2025 General Elections by bolstering their respective leadership roles and grass roots structures.

To date, Malawi Congress Party (MCP), a key partner in the governing Tonse Alliance, as well as the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have held their elective conventions where delegates voted for some key positions while UTM Party, People’s Party (PP), Alliance for Democracy and United Democratic Front (UDF) have announced dates for their respective conventions.

Barely days after MCP national executive committee (NEC) appointed 52 people into various positions in an effort to strike regional and gender balances, DPP has also given eight of its senior members as presidential advisers.

Coincidentally, some of the appointees are those who tumbled during elections at the conventions.

DPP publicity secretary Shadric Namalomba said in a statement dated September 1 2024 that former DPP secretary general Clement Mwale, who lost to Peter Mukhito, is now presidential adviser on political affairs while Leader of Opposition in Parliament George Chaponda, who fell to Chiradzulu South parliamentarian Joseph Mwanamvekha in the race for vice-president for the South, has been appointed presidential adviser on policy development.

Former DPP national organising secretary Chimwemwe Chipungu, who lost to Blantyre City South East legislator Sameer Suleman, is now presidential adviser on organisation while former Malawi Electoral Commission commissioner Jean Mathanga, who lost to Nsanje Lalanje legislator legislator Gladys Ganda the position of director of elections is now advisor on election management.

Former DPP director of legal affairs Charles Mhango who lost his position to Blantyre City Central legislator Chipiliro Mpinganjira, is the presidential adviser on legal affairs, while Dyton Mussa who vied for DPP director of youth, but lost to Norman Chisale, is now presidential adviser on youth.

Former Blantyre Malabada legislator Aaron Sangala who contested for director of international relations position, but lost to Namalimwe Ward councillor Gertrude Chirambo, is presidential adviser on operations while Everton Chimulirenji is now presidential adviser on campaign.

Speaking in an interview yesterday, Mukhito said the appointees have nothing to do with the operation of the party because they will only be reporting to the president.

“The substantive positions that were elected during the convention are operational and those that have been appointed as advisors will have no interference in the day to day operation of the party,” he said.

At the weekend, MCP announced names of 52 members that have been appointed in various positions, filling the remaining NEC positions.

The appointees include Minister of Water and Sanitation Abida Mia as second deputy president while Minister of Justice Titus Mvalo, who previously served as MCP director of legal affairs but lost at the convention to George Kadzipatike, is now deputy director of legal affairs.

Former MCP second deputy president Harry Mkandawire has been roped in as NEC member alongside former strategist Kenneth Zikhale Ng’oma and Engineer Vitumbiko Mumba, both of whom lost to Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara in the race for t first deputy president.

MCP secretary general Richard Chimwendo Banda was not available for comment.

But commenting on the developments, political scientist Victor Chipofya, who teaches at the Blantyre International University, observed that the appointments in both DPP and MCP are an indication of lack of intraparty democracy in the country.

He said the country continues to see the signs of neopatrimonial politics where leaders are surrounded by people that bow down to them.

Political scientist Ernest Thindwa said in a separate interview that the appointments are the strategies to accommodate people who are loyal to their respective parties.

Meanwhile, UDF has said its convention set for October 2 and 3 in Blantyre will cost K140 million.

Briefing journalists in Blantyre yesterday, convention chairperson Aisha Mambo-Adams said the party expects 1 200 delegates and invited guests to attend.

“Our members are making contributions for the convention and we also plan to raise funds through donations from well-wishers,” she said.

Mambo-Adams further said that aspirants for positions of president, vice-president, second vice-president, secretary general and deputy secretary general should be those who have been registered as party members for a continuous period of not less than five years.

She said women and youths have been given a consideration to pay 50 percent of the fees which range from K1 million for the position of president to K200 000 for others.

On regional representation, Mambo-Adams said the party will implement a policy whereby some positions will be contested for by members from particular regions.

She acknowledged that UDF has not performed well in elections since 2005, therefore, a strategy is in place to steer the former governing party to victory.

In an interview, UDF women wing representative Yowoyani Mponela called on women to take up leadership positions saying the UDF wants to lead the way in creating a just and equitable society.

Meanwhile, political pundit George Chaima has said the convention offers the UDF an opportunity to review the party’s standing in the National Assembly and on the ground.

“The party leaders and the members should give ears to any dissenting views that may emerge during the convention,” he said.

The UDF convention will be held under the theme ‘Towards unity, renewal and socio-economic transformation’.

Currently, submission of nominations is underway and is expected to close on September 10 2024.

Former president Bakili Muluzi’s son, Atupele, who relinquished the UDF presidency in 2024, already expressed interest to vie for the post.

On the other hand, UDF interim president Lilian Patel is on record as having said that she will not contest for any position.

UTM Party will hold its convention on November 17 this year while PP said it will have it in September.

For UTM Party, all eyes are on who will fit into the shoes of Vice-President Saulos Chilima, the party’s president who died in a military plane crash on June 10 2024 alongside eight others. The names coming up include the country’s Vice-President Michael Usi, Engineer Mathews Mtumbuka, former Reserve Bank of Malawi governor Dalitso Kabambe, secretary general Patricia Kaliati and founding member Engineer Newton Kambala.

In the case of PP, former president Joyce Banda is also expected to seek re-election.