In Malawi’s political corridors, one name has become both a rallying cry for hope and a lightning rod for envy — Hon. Simplex Chithyola Banda. The Finance Minister, legislator for Kasungu South, and loyal ally of President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, has over the years built a reputation that blends humility, integrity, and political maturity. Yet, despite his track record, he has increasingly become the target of vicious political sabotage.
Chithyola and Chakwera
The burning question is: why?
The answer lies in his growing stature and proximity to power. In today’s MCP, Chithyola is seen as the bridge between President Chakwera and the party’s grassroots. He is also the closest political confidant to MCP’s running mate, Vitumbiko Mumba — a partnership that unsettles those who prefer weak and malleable leaders.
To understand the fear he generates, one must look at the numbers. During the MCP primaries in Kasungu South, Chithyola commanded a staggering 2,216 votes, while his nearest challenger managed only 112. That margin of over 2,100 votes wasn’t just a victory; it was a political earthquake. It cemented his legitimacy in his constituency and proved his dominance among grassroots supporters. Yet instead of being celebrated, such overwhelming popularity has turned him into a marked man for political schemers who thrive on manipulation.
At the centre of his current troubles is a so-called Shadow MP — a political nonentity who failed miserably at the ballot but is reportedly being propped up by a powerful MCP figure. This kingmaker, still bitter that his preferred female candidate was overlooked when Chakwera appointed Mumba as running mate, has redirected his frustrations toward Chithyola. The logic is simple: if you cannot attack Mumba directly, attack his closest ally. And thus, Chithyola has become the convenient punching bag of intra-party power games.
Ministers of Mining, Monica Chang’anamuno, Finance Simplex Chithyola Banda, and representative of the mining companies during the signing ceremony of MDAs in Lilongwe
This hostility did not start today. When President Chakwera personally requested that Chithyola be included in the MCP National Executive Committee, his name was deliberately omitted. His crime was not corruption, not incompetence, but integrity. His independent-mindedness was too much for some to stomach.
The 2024 MCP Convention was another painful chapter. Against all odds, Chithyola entered the race with courage, and to the shock of many, amassed 529 votes. His rival was declared the winner with 670, but the suspicious margins left many whispering about manipulation. For a man written off as an outsider, those 529 votes revealed that his support base was real, resilient, and growing. That day, his crime was laid bare: he dared to dream big.
Beyond the battlefield of party politics, Chithyola’s rise is also fueled by his record in government. As Finance Minister, he has become one of the most pragmatic economic managers Malawi has had in years. He steered Malawi through a critical debt restructuring process with the IMF and World Bank, unlocking badly needed budgetary support and helping stabilize foreign exchange reserves.
His 2024/25 national budget put people first, setting aside billions for food security and directing resources to DoDMA to ensure no Malawian dies of hunger. He has also prioritized infrastructure, with funding already earmarked for the Santhe–Mkhota–Kapiri road project, proof that his promises are more than words.
Chithyola testing the borehole
In an era of fiscal waste, Chithyola has pushed for discipline, trimming unnecessary government expenditure and restoring some measure of confidence in Malawi’s public finance management. He has also backed smallholder farmers by protecting allocations for the Affordable Inputs Programme, ensuring that millions of vulnerable households can access subsidized fertilizer. These are achievements that cannot be wished away — and they explain why he is feared.
Closer to home, in Kasungu South, his development footprint is undeniable. Schools have been rehabilitated and classroom blocks constructed, ensuring thousands of children learn in safer environments. Health centres have been strengthened with more staff and supplies, easing the burden on rural families. Rural roads have been graded, opening up market access for farmers. Villages have been connected to the national grid, sparking new business opportunities. Boreholes have been drilled, giving communities clean and safe water. For the people of Kasungu, these are not political slogans — they are lived realities delivered under Chithyola’s watch.
And so the smear campaigns, the shadows, and the backdoor schemes are all symptoms of one reality: Chithyola represents a politics that is rare in Malawi. A politics not built on patronage, tribal loyalties, or corruption, but on people’s trust. While others stoop low, Chithyola stands tall. While others manipulate numbers, he commands real votes. While others chase positions, he delivers results.
History is unkind to those who underestimate such men. They may be slowed, sabotaged, or mocked, but they cannot be erased. For every stone thrown his way, Chithyola has shown that he can turn it into a stepping-stone.
So why is Chithyola being targeted? Because in a political culture that thrives on mediocrity and manipulation, he dares to dream big. He dares to stand close to power without being corrupt. He dares to command real support, not manufactured loyalty.
And for that, he is feared. But what his enemies forget is this: men who dream big may be opposed, but they are never stopped.
Simplex Chithyola Banda is not just a target. He is a symbol of the new politics Malawi desperately needs.
