Truth be told, whether you’re a Minister, Ambassador, CEO, or board member, you owe your position to President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera. He appointed you, and if Chakwera doesn’t secure re-election this September, your positions will vanish with him. The incoming administration won’t keep you; they’ll bring in their own people.
This is why it’s baffling to see such foolish internal rivalry within the Malawi Congress Party (MCP). The convention, where members fought in camps, is over. Now is the time to unite against a common adversary—the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). It’s not about personal ambition anymore; it’s about ensuring Chakwera wins.
Don’t be deceived by the large crowds you pull in the central region. Those numbers reflect love for MCP, not your individual appeal. Your real challenge lies in the northern and southern regions. The north is a swing area, known for its unpredictable voting patterns. They’ve supported Bingu Wa Mutharika’s DPP, Peoples Party’s Joyce Banda, and UTM’s Saulos Chilima in the past. Their votes for MCP were largely due to Chilima’s presence in the alliance. With Chilima gone, you can’t take anything for granted.
In the south, traditionally DPP territory, it was Chilima who helped MCP gain some ground. Now that he’s no longer part of the equation, the task becomes even tougher. Yet instead of pulling together, you waste time fighting amongst yourselves. It’s madness.
Engineer Vitumbiko Mumba, the Minister of Trade and Industry, has been performing well, giving some hope to voters. Why fight him? Why indulge in petty politics at constituency level? If the fear is that Mumba might be considered as Chakwera’s running mate, that’s a narrow, short-sighted view. If MCP partners with other parties like UDF, a running mate may not even come from within MCP.
Mumba, for your part, avoid airing the party’s dirty laundry in public. That is childish. You must remain a team player. At the very least, President Chakwera should intervene to bring unity among the warring factions, as continued internal disputes will only weaken his chances of re-election.
MCP big-wigs, grow up. Without Chilima, the critical piece that brought MCP back to power, you need to prove you can win on your own. That requires unity, focus, and maturity. It’s time to work together and push toward the shared goal of victory in September. Anything less, and you’ll be digging your own graves.
