MANGOCHI – M’baluku by-election conducted yesterday saw a significant victory for the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), with their candidate Stewart Mwase winning the contest. This result has been described by Eastern Region religious leaders as a “warning shot” to the opposition, indicating that the MCP is poised for triumph in the 2025 general elections.
The remarks were made during a meeting between a delegation of Eastern Region Fraternal, comprising Sheikhs and Pastors, and His Excellency, Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, the President of the Republic of Malawi, at Chikoko Bay State Lodge in Mangochi District.
Sheikh Abdul Karim Kachulu from Machinga expressed confidence that the MCP’s win in Mangochi is a clear indication of the party’s potential success in the upcoming 2025 general elections: “The win has opened a gateway for MCP to win the upcoming 2025 general elections. People used to say that Mangochi is a home to other parties, but this is history now. MCP has penetrated Mangochi, and come next year, Chakwera will win,” he declared.
The Eastern Region Fraternal National Coordinator and Overseer of Destiny Missionaries International, Bishop Andrew Mankhanamba, also praised President Chakwera for his transformational leadership, citing the Mega Farms initiative, roads and railway infrastructure, and the revamping of the tourism sector as key areas where the current government has excelled.
Mankhanamba hailed President Chakwera for uniting all of Malawi, regardless of political inclinations, and emphasized the need for a strong president like Chakwera to lay a strong foundation that will benefit future generations.
Mangochi Fraternal Chairperson Debora Julio Phiri echoed the sentiment, stating that Chakwera will win the next elections because people want him to finalize the development works he has started.
President Chakwera, in his address, shared his vision to end hunger by making Malawi a producing nation. He also appealed to the religious leaders to advise their subjects against the wanton cutting down of trees and announced the government’s plan to distribute 2 million environmentally friendly cooking stoves to prevent communities from destroying the environment.
The MCP’s victory in the Mangochi – M’baluku by-election and the endorsement from the Eastern Region religious leaders suggest a growing political momentum for the party, setting the stage for a potential showdown in the 2025 general elections.
