By Twink Jones Gadama
With only six months left before leaving office, President Lazarus Chakwera is facing a daunting task: fulfilling his campaign promises.
The list is long and ambitious, and many are wondering if he can deliver.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the promises that are still pending:
- Blantyre Stadium: A state-of-the-art stadium that was promised to boost sports development in the country.
- Mbelwa University: A new university that was promised to increase access to higher education.
- Nsundwe Barracks: A new military barracks that was promised to improve the living conditions of soldiers.
- Nthalire Road: A major road project that was promised to improve transportation infrastructure.
- Livingstonia-Nkakhwa Road: Another critical road project that was promised to connect rural communities.
- Gwanda Chakuamba School of Excellence: A new school that was promised to provide quality education.
- Sidik Mia Highway: A major highway project that was promised to improve transportation infrastructure.
- Zomba Stadium Completion: The completion of a stadium that was promised to boost sports development.
- Mzuzu Stadium: A new stadium that was promised to boost sports development in the northern region.
- Mega Farms in Every Region: A promise to establish large-scale farms in every region to boost food production.
- Lean Cabinet: A promise to reduce the size of the cabinet to not more than 20 ministers.
- Hospitals in Every 5km: A promise to increase access to healthcare by building hospitals in every 5km radius.
- Affordable Fertilizer: A promise to make fertilizer affordable by selling it at K4500 per 50kg bag.
While some progress has been made, many of these promises remain unfulfilled.
The question on everyone’s mind is: can Chakwera deliver on these promises in just six months?
The president’s track record on fulfilling campaign promises has been mixed, to say the least.
In May 2024, Chakwera assumed the chancellorship of the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), despite his earlier commitment to end the tradition of presidents holding chancellorships at public universities.
This move was widely criticized, and many saw it as a broken promise.
Furthermore, Chakwera’s administration has been accused of failing to deliver on several campaign promises, including the creation of jobs and the improvement of the economy.
The president’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2024 was also widely criticized for being misleading and lacking in substance just as the recent 2025 delivered a fortnight ago.
Despite these challenges, Chakwera remains optimistic about his ability to deliver on his campaign promises.
However, with only six months left in office, time is running out.
Malawians will be watching closely to see if Chakwera can deliver on his promises and leave a lasting legacy.
As one observer noted, “Chakwera’s ability to deliver on his campaign promises will determine his legacy as president. If he fails to deliver, it will be a missed opportunity for Malawi.”