Chakwera hints on vying for second term as Malawi president
President Lazarus Chakwera has dropped a hint that he would vie for a second term in office and not be in power for only five years of his first term to pay way for vice-president Saulos Chilima to take over as Chilima said in the run up to the June 23 presidential election.
In Tiuzeni Zoona program on Zodial Broadcasting Station aired on Sunday, Chakwera said it was too early to start talking of 2025 presidential election.
“Let us cross the bridge when we reach it. Now, let us concentrate on building the nation, clearing the rubble. It is too early to talk about because we are just a month into office for a five-year journey,” he said.
However, he said it will be up to people to elect him in 2025 for another term or not.
In the run-up to June 23 presidential elections, Chilima is on record saying he would succeed Chakwera after his term expires in 2025 even though he would be allowed by the Constitution to seek fresh mandate.
In a public rally at Njamba Freedom Park in Blantyre, Chilima said he would be the alliance’s next presidential candidate after Chakwera in line with their rotational leadership arrangement.
But against Chakwera –a cleric who served as Malawi Assemblies of God president before joining frontline politics in 2013– in ‘Times Special’ television interview with Brian Banda before the elections said: “That’s not true and nobody has said that.”
However, Chakwera’s whose Malawi Congress Party (MCP) is leading the nine-party Tonse Alliance led government said they will be reviewing the terms of the Tonse Alliance deal.
Commenting on the spate of arrests in Sunday’s interview, which the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) say they are political, Chakwera said he is not involved in the selection of suspects to be arrested.
“The selection of arresting suspects lies in the hands of state prosecuting agencies; I am not even involved.
“They are arrested after thorough investigations,” said the president.
He said even Tonse alliance officials can be arrested if the state has cases against them.
Tonse Alliance comprises nine parties including support from human rights activist-turned-politician Timothy Mtambo who is leading Citizens for Transformation Movement.
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Malawian journalists please don’t destroy our country,you enjoy when the president is not in good terms with his vice.Leave the president and vice president to develop malawi economically.When there is peace between the two leaders you are not happy.Stop this type of journalism.
Guys, 🙆🏿♀️🙆🏿♀️🙆🏿♀️is it from the same interview I listened to from start to finish where you got this one? Do you understand English? He never at any point “hinted” at anything like that. He said “it’s too early to talk about 2025 rather let’s talk about fulfilling the promises we made and clearing the rubble. It will be up to the Malawians to choose who they want to lead them when the time comes…” despite being pressured by the journalist. The rest, you have rightly alluded to in your article… Does that sound like a hint on “vying for a second term?” 😳😳 We need responsible ethical reporting osati sensationalized nyansi zoyambitsa kusagwirizana pakati pa aMalawi chonde! Kumakonda dziko lanu🙏🏿
As Chilima proclaimed at a public rally that he and Chakwera have agreed (I assume its in writing) that Chakwera will stand down after his first term, to enable Chilima to stand. So if that is what the 2 leaders agreed, than Chakwera was obliged to inform the nation that after doing his best he would stand down after doing his best to clear the rubble and deliver on their promises to let Chilima stand. We are indeed heading for the clash of elephants – between Chakwera and Chilima, this alliance is going nowhere but disintegration. DPP is heading back to power in 4 years time. Chilima back to modelling in fashion shows. Chakwera back to the pulpit and corrupt businessmen will switch back support to DPP. Malawi wa lero
If indeed the agreement was for Chakwera to stand down in 2024 not only MCP members but the Malawi nation need to be told. Whether Chakwera stands or not it’s clear that Chilima will stand.
So DPP be smart and get your act together then you will present a formidable challenge to the others.
Now does Joyce Banda and PP with their 5 seats disappear into the dust been of history, does Bakili and Atupele with their UDF do the same and disappear into the dustbin of history? Who knows this indeed is today’s Malawi.
What is for sure is our farmers are not getting the free fertiliser and COVID is killing our people.
The MCP Constitution says 2 term limits. If he is a principled man he could have said according to our constitution (MCP’s) which is what I am bound by. I will not seek another term in office. As simple as that, but he chooses to leave everything to speculation and imagination creating a room for detractors. This is what is the problem. Chakwera has proved to be a person who finds it difficult to stick to his words. That is why he does not want to commit to a clearly determined stand point of view. If you take a closer look to most of his promises and to what is on the ground. You will find that a good number of them are not followed to the letter. Which is what is the biggest problem. In the end of it all he will not be much very different from DPP. With most of the things either not properly done or half done or entirely diverted from. I would advise SKC to focus on working rather on talking because he is way much better doing that now rather than at any point in time. Dr. Laz likes talking which is what he has been doing for the greater part of his life. As of now, he should find something better to do because this talking will backfire very soon. He is always forced to come back and eat his own words. Which is not good.
Ehhhh these journalists are something else…please stop this nonsense…
Chakwera n Chilima are in a tricky situation bcoz it appears they never revealed what they agreed on their MOU to their supporters which is to some extent is bad. Suppose if they agreed that in 2025 Chilima will be a torch bearer, MCP supporters will never like and agree on this actually they will persuade their leader to go for second term. On the other hand Chilima camp will never allow again their leader to be the vice again.
Trying all waht you can to sow seeds of disunity !!! DPP will be disbanded shortly ! Just wait
No one is sowing seeds of disunity here. Malawians keep words they have listened from the mouths of their leaders before even journalists come up with their articles. on leadership of Tonse alliance both Chakwera and Chilima they differ on what they tell the public so people don’t know who is telling the truth.
10 years yonse bwana mulamula
Bola Bishop Msusa adzakhale ali moyo adzakuthandizeninso campaign.
in 2025 Chilima can still be runningmate. i realy dont understand this notion yoti iyi ndi term yomaliza for Chilima to be vice president, which section in the constitution imene imanena za limits of term ya runningmate or vice president??? the Constitution imanena za limit ya terms for president ONLY. it doesnt include vice president pilizi chonde abale…..as to whether Chakwera will lead the Tonse Alliance again or stand on MCP ticket in 2025 izo nde ndimene wayankhila mwini wakemo kut ‘lets cross the bridge when we reach it’.
The term limits are for both the President and Vice. Go read the Constitution, it’s in black and white. No need for a lawyer to interpret for you.
SKC supported him blindly.
The job which Chilima is doing now is more than a president and i dont see any problem as long as Chilima is in Tonse alliance thats enough
This is based on a memorandum of understanding signed between MCP and UTM the details of which are a top secret……but I can reveal to you that come 2025 assuming both Chakwera and Chilima are still alive….
Chakwera will run again under the Tonse alliance flag and Michael Usi will be his running mate…..Chilima will still be the president of UTM party and will hold some important role in advising government while enjoying his Vice President retirement package.
In 2030 Chilima will be the torch bearer of the Tonse alliance with Mr Mia as his running mate so in essence, Mr Usi will be a one term Vice President.
Chilima will be a one term president considering that he served 10 years as a Vice President, so in 2035 it will be mr Mia leading the Tonse alliance deputised by mr Usi……
So there you have it…..Hope this helps.
Are you serious about this, or are you a stranger in this country Kkkkkkkkkkk, my friend be serious, come 2025 Chilima will contest for the presidency, with or without the so called alliance.
You missed a very straightforward point. Tonse Alliamce was formed to kick DPP out.
The Alliance won’t be there come 2025. There will be no need for it
You are the one missing the point…….don’t forget that to win one need 50 + 1 sizakake Zija iwalani zimenezo…….so yes both Chakwera and Chilima will need each other again come 2025.
We don’t want our nation running two elections just because no one attained the required 50%.
So you know that the UDF DPP and all other parties are very alive in the 50 plus 1 game. Tonse will be gone. MCP will have to go against UTM or other parties. Different coalition will take place
This must be the joke of the day. Chakwera has already shown he is INCOMPETENT. How on earth would such a man be fronted for TONSE in 2025.
Fellow Malawians, with great sadness and pains, I’m responding and or comment on this article, I think wew Malawians have a problem, sometimes we attack and or create problems ourselves. Can we say or are we really serious that to day we can ask the President to tell us what they agreed with his partners just because he seem to be some one whom other countries are trying to borrow a leaf? Malawi tisamasonkhe Moto pamene pagwera Petrol please! Do you know that Chakwera can even give Chilima his leadership even before 2025? Do you know that even today Chakwera can do that? Some of you have known Chakwera atalowa Ndale,he is not the type of a person you are trying to make to be! Let’s build Malawi together, inu azathu munalembedwa ntchito za ukazitape, takhalani kaye pheee, tione kuti kodi Chuma chathu chayamba kuyenda bwanji, ndipo ngati Dziko tichite chiyani kuti miyoyo ya anthu isinthedi? Koma you can’t just woke up today, and start kuwiya
Minga pa mmijigoo ngati kuti ndinu anthu amene mulibe mavuto, bwanji osamupatsa kaye mpata Chakwera at least 2 years kenako muzibwela ndi nyasi zanu zofuna kuyambanitsa anthuwa? Ndale za uchitsiru zimene mukupangazi! Ndale za anthu osazindikila, don’t attack the change! Don’t take us back! Taphunzirani kukhala anthu odekha! That is why ma station anuwa in the past Government amangokukhobolani because, mukuoneka kuti simutha kugwiritsa ntchito ukadaulo wanu mwa mzeru. You are the attackers of development! Let this leadership concentrate on building this broken Malawi! Sitingakhalale zokhazokhazi iyayi! Musatinyase! Chakwera is not thinking of the next election, he is thinking of the next generation! Munthu wangolowa kumene ku Palace ndiye ayambe zonaganiza zoti adzawina bwanji 2025? Zopusa basi! Mkuona mupangitsa anthu kuti aziba chuma cha Boma, kenako muziti a police akulephela ntchito yawo, chifukwa mumapeleka phuma ku azitsogoleli.
Zitheletu zimenezi! This is not time for campaign! Ndipo zisachitikeso. Mmutu mwanu muziyenda chikondi pa Dziko lanu. Nywenywenywenywe pa President zithe zimenezo, ngati zikuchokela pa sanje, bwanji osangozilowa ndalezo bwanji?????
This is a very dangerous protocol!
Mmutu mwako mwadzadza mamina
Hahaha koma ndiwe ..,.. kwabasi zimenezi ukaauze ankolo ako . Who are you to stop pole from criticizung or talking about what they are seeing. It doesn’t require two years for us to see whether he is competent or not.
Chakwera gave a political answer to the questions. Dont read too much into his response.
Remember at the rally Chilima said apart from being VP he would be in Cabinet Minister in charge of Reforms and Finance. Did that not happen?
He also said the presidency will be rotational within the Tonse Framework. These agreements were made and are cast in stone
Saulos yambani kunola mpeni uja……parallel press briefing and shouting osaopa, mcp is packing. Ife a utm we don’t like people who can’t keep their words. U finance minister mwatilanda, 50% cabinet jobs zakanika, ntchito 1 million every year minister kandodo wakana, mega farms ayikana, 4,500 feteleza kwa aliyense ayikana. What sort of partnership is this?
Chakwera is right. Presidential term limit is two terms. Let the people decide who should lead them. It’s not for Chakwera and Chilima to impose themselves on people. If in their secretive MOU they agreed to serve one term each between Chakwera and Chilima that’s going to be their un making as their followers will not accept this arrangement. Both leaders are making big mistakes not to tell their party faithfuls about the contents of their agreement.
Chilima was stupid to believe anyone would want to do one term as president and make him takeover. And what guarantee is there people will want to vote the alliance for a second term?
Abusa musatelo. Mwatiwombola but do not get intoxicated.
We told Chilima that MCP just wanted him to take them into victory. Imagine he has been busy meeting ministers yet Chakwera summons the same ministers. This type of working is what starts problems because by doing so Chakwera is showing that he doesn’t trust Chilima. Chakwera should have waited to be briefed by Chilima on what transpired at the meeting with ministers. This type of behaviour by Chakwera is what promotes bickering eventually the two will split.
Chilima will never be president of this country.. He sold his future prospects because of greed and ambition. Yes he managed to take DPP out of government but also the removal of DPP marks the end of his ambition to become president.
But even Chilima would not be close to the State if he stood alone, I wish I would just leave them to do what they agreed. Which no one knows!
Adampatsa ntchito imene amafuna. He is the second in command of Tonse Alliance
Just shut up. People like you said Chakwera will NEVER become the president. You don’t know about the future and how events will turn out. Alll what you know are little gossips and speculations. Chilima is in his 40s and Chakwera in 60s and you say Chilima’s ambition is dead. Silly cow!!!
U mean the seat is already so sweet that u cant let go even before u start working!! Africa’s next Despot in making?? God heal Africa we pray🙏🙏
I feel bad for chilima to be vice prescription dent for ten years
UTM apa zativuta
Mpando Umenewu
Mpando Umenewu
Mdyelekezi anapakapo chani pampando umenewo
Kuteleku alolela kudana ndikumamusemela zinyau mwanayo
Chakwela adzinamiza
Koma mwanayo ndipandunda
Amagwedeza Malawi yonse
Source of conflict in Tonse Alliance. In 2025, Chilima will not be allowed to stand as runningmate. Will he allow not to stand at all?
Let’s not worry about next elections yet, for now let’s send all thieves to jail and recover money stolen for development of Malawi and change the lives of poor people in the villages who have been taken for a ride for longtime. We are past campaign time. Let’s judge him when elections are near wether he walked the talk on development manifesto or not. If he fails to walk the talk let’s boot him out then.
Chakwera was right not to answer that question because he already addressed the issue during the exclusive interview with Brian Banda on Times television just before the election…..the fact that the media is hell bent to push this issue is obvious that there is a hidden agenda. This the time to rebuild our nation and not start talking about who gets what in 2025.
This is not time for politics. Itsanana has more serious fish to fry, like clearing the rubble and engineering development programs and reforms.
A Nyasatimes zitayeni izi zongotayitsa nthawi.
Chakwera needs more time to transform Malawi for the next 20 years..The good thing is that we have the numbers in parliament to ammend the Constitution.
About SKC..he is still young,he can have a break in 2025 and come back 2030 for presidency.
Viva Malawi!
That’s what we call politics boys.Fooling each other is part of the game.
Ili nde boza…why bringing such topics now? All you want is Laz adane nde skc then muzinena kuti it’s been a trend president stops getting along with his vp…what a shame! He clearly said that it’s early to discuss that topic coz right now it’s time to rebuild our nation! Shame on u with bad reporting.
It’s ok. SKC will also be vying for the same because according to our constitution he can’t be VP again. May the best man win.
Wina akhalaso running mate 2025
Nyasatimes, is it true that we should start discussing Second Term for the Alliance now? I do not think this is reasonable thing to do. We will distract the team and it will not achieve its objective – to the detriment of both LMC and SKC.
Of course it’s too early for Mr Chakwera to decided whether to remain in power or to return the sit to Chilima.Lets cross the bridge first and decide.
But me as a Malawian who loves my country, I would like to give Chakwera prompted time to carry Malawi to where it belongs.
In other words,Let these two guys {Lazarus&Saul} work together until the needs of Vulnerable Malawians who are there waiting for a relief after long oppression from the past DPP regime have been settled.
Mr President I wish you a good governance and make Malawian a better home for all.
We love You!!!
The truth is coming to roost. Look, Prez Laz will try to have 2 terms. It is unrealistic for UTM to think that this term is the last. I said so before the election. If UTM is smart, they better acknowledge and bargain to get more other goodies in the process. Hail the Prez! He is the boss, man
Penapake journalists just want to create confusion and conflicts among people. With that response how could you link that to a hint for a second term go. These people are just two months in the job you start this divisive topic. Stupid
Mwayambapotu. Just a month in power. Please spare us this drama and focus on tangible solutions to the problems the masses are encountering.
Kuti lakata.
Zayambika, mr president,. Gear up your wisdom, why are people asking you this question? They are agents of destruction. Becareful.
He should not start it. A good Christian should keep his promises. Next term is for Chilima. Without Chilima, DPP will return. MCP can’t stand without UTM
You are 100% on point. He should handover if indeed they intend to stay in power.
What is contained in the agreement which you guys, Chilima and Chakwera, publicly signed is what to be followed at the end of this term. Don’t fool one another after all you can’t fool Sauls, mashini ake si Chilima, mwauponda man
Dzimvere mu m’tolo zeze. From there you will be NOTHING. Keep shouting around with 4 MPs.
By then Zeze will link up with the udf and DPP to form the next government. No permanent enemies in politics
Actually the next general election is in May 2024 stop misleading people. Chakwera will only serve the remainder of apm second term because this was a fresh election following nullification. Chilima here is your chance to state your claim
Born to be a deputy, a vice basi.supporting cast not the main actor. Chilimas role. Be humble in life
kkkkkkkkk ! Nothing for Chilima !!!!!
Chilima never said he would take over from Chakwera “after his term expires in 2025”. How does a 10 year term if he wins next election expire in 2025? What kind of journalism is this? Attach the clip. A President runs for 10 years if voted in again, after which someone takes over. The problem with Malawians in general is a lack of details, too quick to jump on nonsense before actually understanding what is being said.
By the way, even if Chakwera was to step down others would be free to challenge for the leadership. Its called a democracy, its not a chieftaincy that is inherited or willed by individuals.
Open your brains!
Though I am not a politician, my views are that Malawians of good will should try as much as possible for DPP not to bounce back to power.
Tiona.
BOMA ILO 💪🏾🔥🔥🔥🐓🐓🐓🇲🇼
Mwamvatu apa. People will decide his candidature in 2025.