……𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐄: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐂𝐏 𝐑𝐔𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

By Innocencia Chikuse

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐚𝐳𝐚𝐫𝐮𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐚,

In politics, timing, perception, and coalition management define not just survival—but legacy. As you prepare to file your nomination papers, I submit this position paper not as a plea, but as a reflection—born of loyalty, grounded in strategy, and sharpened by lived political experience.

Let me begin from a place of symbolism—political and personal.

A couple of days ago, during one of your campaign launches, I stood quietly at a distance from the main crowd. You were aboard the open-top campaign vehicle, moving slowly, waving to the masses gathered along the roadside. It was the usual choreography of power and proximity. But then, a moment happened.

As your vehicle moved toward the centre of the crowd, I stood alone—isolated, just as I have been on the margins of your administration; not “mu mtika” of your administration—underutilised but not disillusioned. In that moment, I raised my clenched fist—not out of resentment, but in unwavering belief, silent solidarity, and continued hope of your leadership. You saw me, read the goodwill gesture, and raised your fist too in return—a gesture small in time, but profound in meaning. Despite being underutilised, my commitment to your leadership endures, driven not by personal gain but by a deep conviction that your re-election is far better for Malawi than surrendering the presidency to the nepotistic, greedy, and unrepentant hands of the DPP—a regime Malawians rightly rejected in 2020.

That moment stirred this position paper back to life—one I had shelved weeks ago. I once offered modest yet strategic support to the MCP presidential project in the build-up to 2019/2020 presidential bids, hoping to also be accorded an opportunity to substantively help serve the nation. While that hope remains unmet, it never turned to disloyalty. I therefore write not for recognition, but for contribution—just as I did when I penned my earlier paper after the passing of Vice President Saulos Chilima, proposing, among others, Dr. Michael Usi as a worthy successor. His appointment, whether by coincidence or convergence, reaffirmed that our instincts may still align—just like our fists did on that campaign trail.

𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝.

Your administration has achieved commendable gains—especially in infrastructure. But let us speak plainly: the economic picture is troubling. Rising inflation, currency instability, and declining household purchasing power have left many Malawians anxious. That anxiety is now being politically weaponised. Some are romanticising the previous administration under Peter Mutharika as an era of “proven leadership.” Never mind the contradictions. In politics, perception quickly morphs into reality—especially when the kitchen is economically hot.

This is why your re-election strategy must aim for a first-round victory. A run-off would signal vulnerability. Psychologically, it would breathe new life into the opposition and ignite a wave of sympathy that could swell their support in the second round. Momentum matters—and once it shifts, it is difficult to recover. Fatigue will set in. Doubt will creep in. Your party machinery, now energised, will face psychological burnout. The narrative will slip from “Chakwera is leading” to “Chakwera is surviving.” And survival, Sir, is not a winning message.

Yet my hypothesis is that this election is headed for a second round. Why? Because with several candidates in the race—particularly Joyce Banda, Dalitso Kabambe, and Atupele Muluzi—each likely to secure modest but meaningful shares of the vote, their combined impact will deny both you and APM the 50% plus one majority needed for a first-round victory.

It is therefore against this background that you need a running mate who is not only loyal but lethal in the trenches of campaign warfare. Someone with energy, credibility, and broad appeal. Someone who, like the late SKC, can complement your statesmanship with tactical agility and popular connection. A partner who helps fight for the presidency and govern after it is secured.

You also need to mend broken bridges. Extend an olive branch to Joyce Banda and Khumbo Kachali. Open communication lines with fringe parties—AFORD, PDP, UDF, Mwenifumbo’s party, even Odya Zake. In a likely second-round contest, these partners could prove decisive. Do not treat them with contempt during this campaign; they could be the crucial elements that complete the puzzle, much like the late Chilima and UTM once were.

Talk of possible running-mates; three names rise to the surface as potential running mates—each with assets, each with risks. I will lay them out candidly, but ultimately, I will recommend one: the individual I would choose if I were in your shoes, staring down the toughest political battle of your career.

The presidential throne is not guaranteed, Sir. But it remains within reach. If navigated wisely—with foresight, courage, and the right partner—it can be secured once more.

And perhaps, just perhaps, that single raised fist—shared between us in silence—was a quiet reminder of what we are still fighting for.

𝟏. 𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐆𝐎𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐈 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀

The current Speaker of Parliament, Gotani Hara, is a woman of institutional grace. You personally championed her rise, signaling a welcome commitment to gender inclusion in high office. Her background in both Parliament and previous ministerial roles reflects governance experience and credibility.

But her electoral appeal, particularly in terms of vote mobilization, is limited. Though from the North—a region projected to be a kingmaker in this election—she lacks the popular political machinery required to swing votes en masse. The North respects her, certainly, but does not rally behind her. Moreover, while her gender might seem like an advantage, it must be remembered that female political leadership has faced skepticism in Malawi since the Joyce Banda era. In essence, her pick would be elegant, but not electorally forceful.

𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭: Elegant, capable—but no vote magnet. Therefore safe but ineffective. A knife in a gunfight. Proceed with caution.

𝟐. 𝐃𝐑. 𝐌𝐈𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐄𝐋 𝐔𝐒𝐈

Dr. Usi, whom you appointed as Vice President after Chilima’s death, brings emotional stability and public decency to the table. He is highly educated, widely respected, and morally grounded. His decision to part ways with UTM and form a new party was a commendable reading of the political moment.

However, his greatest weakness remains unchanged: he does not bring votes. He failed to win a parliamentary seat in his own district. His new party, while noble in ambition, is electorally invisible. Dr. Usi is not a mobilizer. His appeal is symbolic, not strategic. He represents continuity—but not expansion. Electing him as a running mate again would be a gesture of loyalty, but likely not a winning formula.

𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭: Capable in statecraft. Calm but unelectable. Therefore weak in vote-math. Good for peace, not politics.

𝟑. 𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐑 𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐈𝐊𝐎 𝐌𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐀

Here lies your strongest electoral card—if you can muster the courage to play it. Mumba burst onto the scene with both clarity of purpose and energy of reform. His record in both Labour and Trade Ministries speaks of execution, not excuses. His message resonates across regions. He is a political rarity: a newcomer who commands national attention and grassroots energy.

But he is feared—not by the people, but by those within your own political house. Party veterans view him as a threat to succession plans. They accuse him of arrogance, of being too blunt, of not being “one of us.” But that is precisely why the people admire him. He is different. He delivers. And in a political climate where delivery is in short supply, that counts for a lot.

Yes, he can be politically naïve at times. His public remarks can appear undiplomatic. But these are growing pains, not fatal flaws. His rallies in opposition territory, particularly in Blantyre, showed that he can attract voters beyond the central region. He is not just a symbolic pick—he is a strategic one. And the forces trying to eject him from the party do so not because he is weak, but because he is strong.

The Northern Region will be the battleground that decides this election. Securing those votes requires a running mate who commands both regional acceptance and national appeal—and frankly, that is not Khumbo Kachali, Mathews Mtumbuka, or Gotani Hara. In my view, that candidate is Vitumbiko Mumba. Many of us from the Centre and South admire his fearless commitment to the welfare of Malawians. With APM having already alienated the North, this is your opportunity to capitalise—Mumba could be your strategic advantage.

𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭: Electrifying. Unpredictable. High risk, highest reward. A candidate of substance, fire, and cross-regional appeal especially in the North. The people’s lion. The kind of gamble you take when winning is non-negotiable.

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍

Ultimately, this election will be decided by political strategy and voter connection—not by gender or the narrow technocratic profile of a running mate, as APM has miscalculated with his uninspiring choice. This election will be won by reading the mood of the country, building new bridges where old ones have collapsed, and selecting a partner who brings value—strategically, numerically, and emotionally.

Of the three names I have proposed—names formed through personal political analysis, not partisan lobbying—Engineer Vitumbiko Mumba stands out. He is not the easiest choice, but he is the boldest. Gotani Hara represents institutional continuity, and Dr. Usi offers calm—but Mumba alone has the potential to expand your vote and refresh your ticket.

This position paper is simply another civic intervention from someone who once wrote to you directly, who still watches with hope, and who believes that, when leadership listens carefully, it often hears the voice of the people through unlikely messengers.

May the Almighty God grant you the wisdom to make the right decision.

𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐀 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐊𝐔𝐒𝐄

CITIZEN ENJOYING RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐑:

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘𝒔 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒍 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔: innocenciachikuse@gmail.com