The quest to fill the monumental shoes left vacant by the late strongman Sidik Mia within the ruling Malawi Congress Party has erupted into a fierce battleground, attracting a myriad of contenders from all corners of the political spectrum. From the opportunistic to the principled, the double-dealing to the steadfastly loyal, a diverse array of politicians have thrown their hats into the ring, each harboring aspirations of clinching the coveted position of MCP Deputy President.
With the tantalizing prospect of potentially ascending to the role of Vice President of Malawi looming should the MCP opt for a solo venture in the 2025 elections and President Chakwera exercises his prerogative to select his running mate from within the party ranks, the stakes have never been higher.
The latest entrant to grace this theatrical stage of political ambition is none other than Kezzie Msukwa, hailing from the grounds of Chitipa, who previously adorned the mantle of Minister of Lands in Chakwera’s inaugural cabinet.
His arrival propels the lineup of contenders to a staggering eight, with the seasoned Speaker of Parliament, Catherine Gotani Hara, the eloquent Minister of Information, Moses Kunkuyu, the indomitable Minister of Homeland Security, Ken Zikhale Ng’oma, the venerable statesman Brown Mpinganjira, the astute Engineer Vitumbuko Mumba, and the esteemed former deputy Speaker of Parliament, Esther Mcheka Chilenje, all vying for the same illustrious position.
In the fervent words of Msukwa, a former Government Chief Whip in Parliament, said he is the most loyal contestant of the party who deserves promotion to better serve the party.
Yet, amidst this maelstrom of ambition and fervor, uncertainty shrouds the fate of some of these aspirants, as the MCP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) decreed to bar those with less than two years of party service from vying for NEC positions. This move, born from a desire to preserve the purity of the MCP’s ideological DNA and stave off any potential mutations, leaves the final roster of candidates hanging precariously in the balance.
