In a jaw-dropping moment that silenced a roaring crowd, Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera delivered a thunderbolt of unexpected wisdom at a high-stakes political rally—urging his own supporters to stop mocking and insulting former President Peter Mutharika in campaign songs.
The scene was electric. Thousands had gathered expecting the usual political fire and fanfare. What they got instead was a presidential masterclass in statesmanship. With steely calm, Chakwera told party loyalists—especially women and artists within the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP)—to rise above petty politics and uphold the cultural values of respect, particularly for elders like Mutharika, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader.
The effect was instant. The crowd, moments ago chanting and jubilant, fell into a stunned hush. The silence was not confusion—it was reflection. A party known for fiery tunes and sharp-edged campaign lyrics had just been publicly told to put decency before drama.
And just like that, Chakwera flipped the script on what political rallies in Malawi have become.
Yet, as expected, mainstream media barely blinked. Newspapers that feast on division and outrage conveniently ignored the President’s progressive and unifying message. But not Shire Times—we see it for what it is: a bold, magnanimous stand from a leader preaching peace, tolerance, and political maturity in a nation teetering toward a tense election on September 16.
President Chakwera’s unexpected appeal was backed by a fiery but fact-filled speech from MCP Secretary General Richard Chimwendo Banda, who listed landmark achievements under Chakwera’s leadership with the enthusiasm of a man presenting receipts at a courtroom showdown.
From the multi-billion-kwacha reconstruction of the iconic M5 lakeshore road, to a sweeping expansion of rural hospitals—including a state-of-the-art cancer treatment center—Chimwendo painted Chakwera not as a campaigner, but as a visionary in full stride.
On education, the numbers spoke louder than the slogans: over 31,000 needy university students now receive government tuition support—an unprecedented surge from previous administrations. “This has never happened before,” Chimwendo declared, drawing thunderous applause.
He also hailed Chakwera’s crackdown on attacks against persons with albinism, recalling the dark era when over 150 innocent lives were lost to ritual killings. “Today, people with albinism walk without fear,” he said. “That’s real leadership.”
And the economy? Chimwendo pointed to a farming boom—soya beans that once sold at a pitiful K80 per kilogram now fetch over K2,000. “That’s not luck, that’s policy,” he boomed.
With a rare blend of humility and power, President Chakwera has set a new tone—one that dares to be decent in a political season too often poisoned by insults and vengeance. His message was clear: development, not division. Respect, not ridicule.
As Malawi heads toward the 2025 general election, one thing is becoming unmistakably clear—Chakwera isn’t just campaigning; he’s leading.
