Sean Kampondeni is often described within his circles as sharp and intellectually good—depending, of course, on one’s frame of reference. What remains indisputable is that for five years he was the pen behind presidential speeches that consistently failed to resonate with the people they were meant to reach. As a communication strategist, he understood better than anyone the barriers to effective communication. Yet he still expected positive feedback from a population struggling with hunger, rising costs, and broken promises. Their silence did not mean approval. On 16 September, they finally spoke in one unmistakable voice: Chakwera achoke.
But let me return to the core of my argument. Kampondeni masterfully personalized the Malawi Congress Party’s 2020 victory while operating from State House as the President’s son-in-law. He embodied the classic “Mr. Know-It-All.” After the 2020 electoral win—achieved through a broad, collective effort—Kampondeni behaved as though he alone had delivered the triumph, casting himself in the role of a modern-day Goebbels. It is clear that the possibility of political defeat simply did not exist in his worldview.
As Malawians endured severe hardships across all sectors, Kampondeni continued to craft flowery speeches that were detached from reality. He disregarded the critical voices that were widespread at the time. His proximity to President Chakwera gave him extraordinary influence, and he became one of the final gatekeepers on key governance decisions. By building an impermeable wall around the Presidency, he effectively shut out even loyal MCP supporters. For the first time in the democratic era, the presidency began to resemble a monarchy—closed, insulated, and unaccountable.
Kampondeni underestimated the people of Malawi. They are far wiser than he imagined. The 16 September results—especially from the Central Region, the MCP’s traditional stronghold—were a direct rebuke of the misguided counsel he consistently fed to the President. Those results were not an accident; they were a verdict.
Let this be understood clearly: it was the collective strength of MCP and UTM supporters that put Chakwera and the Malawi Congress Party in government. But it was Kampondeni’s arrogance, exclusionary politics, and poor advice that ultimately ushered them out.
Unawalakwira apongozi ako ase.
