In the hushed serenity of Lilongwe’s Botanic Gardens, where prayers mingled with the gentle rustle of trees, President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera delivered a message not merely of faith, but of national reckoning—one that may very well define Malawi’s march to the 2025 general elections.
Addressing the nation during the solemn Way of the Cross observance, President Chakwera—both a Head of State and a Pastor—issued a resounding call for moral clarity and civic virtue. With the fervor of a prophet and the steadiness of a statesman, he urged Malawians to choose peace over provocation, truth over propaganda, and unity over the toxic allure of political tribalism.
“As we approach the ballot box, let us walk not in rage, but in righteousness,” he declared, his words echoing beyond the sacred garden grounds into the soul of a nation at a crossroads. “Let the values of the cross—sacrifice, truth, and grace—guide our choices, our words, and our conduct.”
With elections now less than 18 months away, Chakwera’s message struck a timely chord in a country too often battered by partisan storms and political subterfuge. He warned against the season’s perennial descent into smear campaigns and divisive rhetoric, cautioning that democracy cannot thrive on a foundation of anger and lies.
Chakwera’s tone was deeply pastoral yet unmistakably presidential, reminding the nation that redemption belongs not only to the church pew but also to the body politic. “No man is without fault,” he said, “but every citizen can choose the path of humility, accountability, and service.”
In a region often marred by electoral unrest and political disillusionment, Chakwera’s vision for Malawi stands as a rare and courageous appeal to conscience over cunning. It is a moral pivot point—one in which he dares the nation to rise not just to the moment, but to its higher calling.
As the countdown to September 2025 accelerates, President Chakwera’s words may well become the moral compass by which Malawi navigates its most consequential test yet: to prove that democracy, when guided by principle, can still lead a nation not to chaos—but to character.
