President Lazarus Chakwera faces one of his most delicate political tests since leaving State House — deciding who should carry the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) flag in the forthcoming election for Speaker of Parliament. The decision, though procedural, is deeply symbolic. It will signal whether the MCP intends to rebuild from defeat through unity, maturity, and strategy — or to descend further into the factional disarray that cost it government.
Several names have been floated, among them former Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale. But while Kawale is an intelligent and articulate politician, this is not the time for experiments or sentimental appointments. What the MCP needs now is proven leadership, a calm yet firm hand capable of commanding respect across party lines. And that leader, undeniably, is Catherine Gotani Hara.
Gotani Hara’s previous tenure as Speaker was not perfect — but it was steady, dignified, and anchored in principle. She balanced a notoriously fractious Parliament with fairness and grace. Her leadership commanded the respect of both government and opposition benches, and in the process, she raised the stature of the National Assembly itself. In a male-dominated political environment, she stood her ground with quiet authority — something her opponents, including the brash and often disrespectful Sameer Suleman, can only dream of.
If President Chakwera and the MCP are serious about remaining relevant and regaining credibility, they must rally behind Gotani Hara. With her experience and composure, she has the best chance of uniting independents and securing sympathy from women MPs across the aisle. In a race likely to be bruising and deeply partisan, those bridges could prove decisive.
But the decision must also go beyond the Speaker’s seat. Should Gotani fail to reclaim the gavel, Chakwera must not discard her. She should be given the opportunity to lead as Leader of Opposition, both as recognition of her seniority and as compensation for being overlooked as running mate during the last election. That position would allow her to use her institutional knowledge and credibility to steady a shaken MCP.
At the same time, the party must look carefully at who would best serve as Leader of Opposition should Gotani return as Speaker. Names like Moses Kumkuyu and Eisenhower Mkaka have been whispered in the corridors — both possess the intellect and grit required to energize the party’s parliamentary voice. Whoever is chosen must be articulate, fearless, and strategic — not someone merely loyal to inner circles, but someone capable of rebuilding MCP’s political identity within the chamber.
However, all of this will come to nothing if the MCP continues to be poisoned by internal divisions and unchecked egos. The Secretary General, Richard Chimwendo Banda, must be reined in. His arrogance, factionalism, and poor political judgment have already cost the party dearly. Too many qualified candidates were sidelined in favor of loyalists — a decision that played a decisive role in MCP’s electoral losses.
This is not the time for score-settling or blind ambition. It is a time for reason, unity, and strategy. The party must recognize that in the face of the Democratic Progressive Party’s ruthless resurgence, MCP needs to control at least one arm of government — and the Speakership offers that chance.
Gotani Hara represents stability, maturity, and experience. She has walked the fire before and emerged with grace. Kawale’s bid, while enthusiastic, would be dead on arrival in the current political climate. MCP cannot afford another misstep.
President Chakwera must therefore act decisively and pragmatically: rally his MPs, silence the factions, and put the party’s weight behind Gotani Hara. It is the only strategic move that makes sense — for the party, for Parliament, and for Malawi’s democracy.
