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.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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,… Read more »
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.