By any measure of political resilience, President Lazarus Chakwera is no lightweight. Though gentle in tone and pastoral by training, the man at the helm of Malawi’s highest office has proven time and again that silence can be the sharpest sword. He absorbs insults. He reads the jabs. He listens to the chatter—even the crude, beer-fueled kind—and chooses not to react. He has made peace his weapon, and calm his armour.
In recent days, Bishop Martin Mtumbuka stirred public discourse when he sharply criticized the government during the consecration of a bishop in Mzuzu, with President Chakwera seated only a few feet away. Critics saw it as inappropriate—a message perhaps valid, but aired in the wrong venue. The Bishop’s family ties to UTM’s Mathews Mtumbuka only deepened the political undertones, prompting questions about motive and timing. Yet, as is now customary, Chakwera chose grace over retaliation. Not a word of rebuttal. No press conference. No off-the-cuff fury. Just composed silence.
But make no mistake—this is not weakness. This is deliberate strategy.
Many before have mocked his background in the pulpit, questioning whether a preacher can lead a nation. Others have hurled insults too vulgar for publication. Still, Chakwera remains laser-focused on national transformation. On a recent podcast with social media personality Nya Uyu, he confessed with stunning honesty: “Ndimaziwelenga zonse… koma ndimakhala chete.” Translation? “I read everything… but I remain quiet.”
And perhaps that’s his genius.
Where others might throw political punches, Chakwera plays the long game. When provoked, he reflects. When tested, he stays grounded. The irony? Those who challenge him often walk away bruised—not by retaliation, but by the weight of their own miscalculation.
His unwavering calm has drawn comparisons with other leaders who turned political adversity into a defining trait. But unlike many of them, Chakwera doesn’t rage or rant—he reforms. Under his leadership, roads are being built, water is reaching the underserved, and national programs are aligning with Vision 2063. He is doing what his critics claim cannot be done, all without raising his voice.
This isn’t just about politics—it’s about posture. The posture of a leader who chooses maturity over malice, purpose over provocation. Malawi, in its journey toward prosperity, could do well to follow suit.
So, attack Chakwera if you must—but history suggests you’ll be fighting a battle already lost to the quiet conviction of a man who knows exactly where he’s going.
