Chakwera declares MCP “alive” and ready for political comeback

Former president Lazarus Chakwera used an address to Christian delegates at the CCAP Livingstonia Synod’s annual conference in Kasungu to signal his party’s ambitions for a return to power, telling the gathering that the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) remained a viable political force despite recent setbacks.

Speaking at Kamuzu Academy, Chakwera blended religious and political rhetoric in remarks that went well beyond the conventions of a typical church address.

“I’ve seen that Livingstonia Synod is alive,” he told delegates. “And let me be clear — the MCP is also alive. We are ready to come back and rescue this nation from the problems we’re facing.”

The former president’s comments come as the MCP seeks to reposition itself following its exit from government, with Chakwera positioning the party as a solution to the country’s ongoing economic and governance challenges, though he offered few specifics on policy during the address.

On his journey back to his base in Lilongwe, Chakwera was met by crowds of supporters at Mponela, who reportedly urged him to speak to them — a moment that underscored his continued grassroots support in parts of the country, even as questions persist over his long-term position within the party.

Chakwera’s insistence that the MCP will rebuild ahead of a renewed push for power comes against a backdrop of internal tensions.

Sources within the party point to factions calling for a leadership transition, with some arguing that fresh leadership may be needed to reinvigorate the MCP’s prospects ahead of future elections.

The former president has so far shown no public sign of stepping aside, and his remarks in Kasungu suggest he intends to remain at the centre of the party’s political strategy. Whether that stance will hold amid growing internal pressure remains to be seen.