It’s straightforward. Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera, in a decisive address at a rally in Lilongwe, made his intentions clear: if the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) convention elects him as the presidential candidate at the upcoming August 2024 national elective convention, he will seek another term in the 2025 elections.
“It’s within my rights to contest next year for a second term as the Malawi constitution allows,” Chakwera declared, receiving thunderous applause from the rally’s attendees.
This statement effectively quashes any speculation about Vice President Saulos Chilima’s potential candidacy under the Tonse Alliance banner in 2025, as Chakwera has made it clear that he is prepared to seek a fresh mandate.
Earlier, MCP Secretary General Eisenhower Mkaka affirmed that President Chakwera would adhere strictly to the constitutional limits on presidential terms. This comment was a direct response to Member of Parliament for Mapuyu South, Esther Cecilia Kathumba, who had previously expressed a desire to amend the law to allow Chakwera to serve as life president.
Mkaka reiterated during the rally that Chakwera respects the law and will not serve beyond 2030. He also corrected any misinterpretations about the MCP’s stance in the upcoming elections, emphasizing that the party values its alliances and is committed to collaborating with other parties to secure Chakwera’s victory in 2025.
