Joyce Banda withdraws from presidential race, endorses Chakwera: PP in alliance with MCP

March 14, 2019 Wanga Gwede & Alfred Chauwa- Nyasa Times 135 Comments

Former president Joyce Banda has withdrawn from presidential race for the May 21 2019 elections after her People’s Party  (PP) formed an electoral alliance with Malawi Congress Party (MCP)  to take on the ruling party, a joint statement said Thursday.

Joyce Banda and her running mate Jerry Jana: Candidature withdrawn
MCP-PP alliance sealed

The announcement comes after Nyasa Times earlier reported that PP national executive committee (NEC) members were meeting at the residence Banda to discuss a possible electoral combination with MCP  to compete as one force in the coming elections.

At an imprompt joint news conference held at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe,  PP secretary general Ibrahim Matola and his MCP counterpeart Eisenhower Mkaka,  it was  announced that Banda has pulled out of 2019  presidential race with her running mate Dr Jerry Jana.

“This is a decision that was taken by the People’s Party national executive committee,” said Matola, reading a brief statement.

Matola said  Banda is also announcing her endorsement of the candidature of MCP presidential torch bearer Lazarous Chakwera.

“The People’s Party fully supports Her Excellency Dr Joyce Banda’s decision,” said Matola.

Matola said the decision has been  reached “ after having Malawi’s greater common good.”

He said: “Malawi is bigger than individuals. As such we all have to set aside individual aspirations and emrace the greater and common good.”

Matola said the discussions between MCP and PP started as far back as 2015 while Banda was still in United States of America.

He said the details of the endorsement will be announced once Chakwera returns from overseas.

Nyasa Times understands Chakwera and Banda will hold a joint news conference on Saturday.

During the news  conference MCP Secretary General Mkaka read the same statement in Chichewa.

Mkaka said he was happy with the development.

Banda has maintained that opposition parties should select a joint candidate in this year’s presidential election to unseat President Peter Mutharika and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and that she would be ready to “turn the page” and let a formidable candidate lead  so she can spend the campaign period supporting candidates and propelling the presidential flagbearer.

Byond elections, Banda, who served as Malawi’s first female president from 2012 to 2014, would like to continue her lifetime mission of transformaing lives of rural communities.

With the MCP-PP alliance and combination of Freedom Party of former vice president Khumbi Kachali, it  could pose the most credible challenge to President Mutharika, the flag bearer of the ruling DPP.

Banda ‘s PP  can make a strong showing in the northern and eastern regions, while MCP has support in central region stronghold and now southern Lower Shire with its running mate Sidik Mia .

New party UTM of Chilima has never been politically tested despite having high profile personalities in his party.

Political commentators say political coalitions must be for Malawi’s, pointing out that votes on May 21 2019  are likely to be fragmented with no real majority winner.

Zomba-based Institute of Public Opinion and Research (Ipor)  in a survey between August and September 2018 indicated DPP is poised to take 33 percent of the votes, followed by MCP with 31 percent and UTM Party with 28 percent and PP trailing a distant six percent.

It therefore makes sense that opposition parties aiming to unseat the current government opt for an alliance as PP would boost MCP numbers to cross the line. Former vice president Khumbo Kachali and his Freedom Party are already in support of MCP presidential ticket.

University of Malawi’s Chancellor College-based political commentator Ernest Thindwa has observed that opposition parties “stand better to benefit a lot from an electoral coalition.”

Social commentator Stanley Onjezani Kenani  is on record to have posted on Facebook: “I think the former president, Mrs Joyce Banda, is the only voice of reason in a crowded opposition field. She says she is open to the idea of a coalition. She does not mind who leads it. The truth is, the murderous DPP can only be defeated if the opposition rallies behind one candidate. But egos the size of Kilimanjaro will, once again, hand victory to thieves.”

Malawi, one of the world’s poorest and most aid-dependent countries, will hold presidential, parliamentary and local council elections on May 21.

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135 replies on “Joyce Banda withdraws from presidential race, endorses Chakwera: PP in alliance with MCP”

  1. The flood gates to CASHGATE are now wide open should MCP win Especially if Roy Kachale Banda will be strategically chosen as Minister of Finance

  2. Despicable and opportunistic behaviour. All these politicians are the same. What do you expect from recycled material

  4. MCP you have lost more than you have gained…… Mr Chakwera you have lost your moral standing and integrity. How do you now speak up against CASHGATE, how can you speak against corruption now??

  5. Oh Oh, Dr Jerry Jana this woman fooled you,…….. you were a running minute for a quick 2 seconds,,………. kikikikikikiki

  6. Can this jb piss off with her undecided motives pls! Or she just wanted a home backfrom her self exiled issue! .such an old cabbage looking woman.
    No your idiot son either pls.
    Go home and continue serving the free tea to your pipo kumudzi.mxiii
    You are boring

  9. JB , Khumbo Kachali,, Sidik Mia, Sosten Gwengwe, Kunkuyu, Zikhale Ng’oma, Catherine Gotani Hara……… MCP is now PP2 recycled!

  12. There is no way Chakwera is going to preach against corruption! He has partnered with CASHGATE! ……H5 is now down to H4

  14. Deuteronomy 28: 7. Those who come together to overthrow the professor will be defeated and scattered in 7 directions

  15. Joyce Banda as a person cholinga chake cheni cheni is just to unsettle DPP basi nothing more…..its a personal thing than dziko

  17. This is the most serious challenge to DPP. PP adds votes to MCP. Joyce Banda is a former head of state. She got at least 1million votes in 2014. Even a mere contribution of 200000 votes from her will be huge.

    Before her endorsement, MCP had already made gains in the North, South, Lower shire, and Eastern regions. MCP had consolidated their support in their Central region stronghold. Her endorsement of Chakwera has sent shivers to DPP.

    Both DPP and UTM tried to persuade her to join them as late as last week because they know her lingering influence. Ask your DPP and UTM leaders.

    The cashgate propaganda will not work because her supporters consider that as persecution (check Muluzi corruption case and UDF support).

    It is understandable that at least 60% (UTM+DPP+UDF+?) of comments are against the move. Unfortunately, that combination will not be in an alliance and that is why MCP will win with slightly below 40% of the vote.

    1. Agreed man. Anthu ena adzafa ndi mtima. Have a life and peace. Saluting Justin Malewezi

  19. The most stupid deal. All signs were for MCP to win next May. Why, then, this crazy deal? Imagine. Roy Kachale being Finance minister. Why? For her mother to resume Cashgate? Izi ndiye za uchitsiru

    2. Who told you that Kachale will be finance minister. Malawi Voice properganda and it won’t work. Malawians are tired of thieving DPP. We want change now and that change will be done by MCP +PP. Prophecy is little by little being fulfilled.

  20. Whatever! ……………….. i wont dwell much on the coalition, but i strongly believe MCP is forming the next government with or without PP. Mind you am not Mcp . But the current ruling party stinks, and its high time it goes back to where ever it came from.

  21. Nonse mukulubwalubwa za alliance ya MCP + PP,ndiju macadet mwagwa nayo,mcp ikukhomani pa 21st may 2019

  22. It’s never too late to cancel the deal which, in it’s state, is bound to do MCP more harm than good.

    What’s the matter Chakwera?

  25. Its a good thing that opposition unites. The only problem with Malawi is that we are not looking at the common good of the Malawians but we have greedy leaders who at all cost want to be president. DPP won with around 30% meaning that around 70% do not want DPP but are in opposition. So JB has done a commendable thing i hope other small parties will do the same and join hands with MCP which we all know will win whether you like it or not

  26. If JB was that bad, why did UTM go to her too. If JB is bad, what did SKC say on hard talk about her. Didn’t SKC start talking to amayi last year of possible coalition, zinangovuta pa running mate. MCP know there will be no issues about PP wanting the running mate position. She has simply withdrawn and endorsed MCP. With UTM that was a coalition. Wasn’t UTM dancing around once they had agreed with PP to be in a coalition.
    Apa all powers rest with MCP.

  27. Whoever wins whether its Chakwera or Chilima doesnt really matter. What we want is an end to DPP era period.

  28. witches fly together,bad apples back to basics,simungagwetse DPP. Quarter will go your way Madam 3 quarters will be for DPP.Selling PP to MCP,ashiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

  30. As usual, Joisi Banda is utterly lost in the political forest.
    Chilima was her first choice, and now oChakwera is her second. Abale eh! This is so prophetic; it actually seals oChakwera’s bridesmaid position next May. Sangawine upresident awa.

  31. By reading some comments, it clearly shows that many Malawians especially those who are fools they seem much loving their party than their Country,, by the way,what would happen if she and her party joined your party?What would you say?Malawi is painful now because of this type of people who always look for faults on people’s decision! This Country is rotten because of kuganiza mobwelera. Cash gate issue of Joice Banda would be dealt by those who are in power now, for 5 years why not arrest her? And you are there pointing on Chakwera how is he going to do that? Fellow failed Malawians accept the pain of coalition of PP FP and MCp and wel come to ICU .
    Ladies and Gentle men, wakwiya akwaye kwambiri ndipo akakolope ku Lake Malawi.

  32. Amayi akudziwa kuti chakwera ndi amene akulowa boma ndiye apanga dala izi coz she know kut chakwera sadzasekerera anthu aka cashgate. JB wapanga dzipulumutse wekha

  33. If you say 2015 discussions MCP with PP started does it mean that time we were crying for our taxes for the
    JET
    MAIZE AT SILOS
    CASH GATE
    MDF issue
    You mean the whole Reverend was busy with her…MY GOD LORD this is not healthy for our country.

  34. Sidik Mia
    Joyce Banda
    Khumbo kachale
    Zikhale Ngoma
    Moses Kunkuyu
    Halima Daudi
    Catherine Gotani Hara.
    Sosten Gwengwe
    Ken Kandodo
    UDF/DPP/PP where are we going UDF. . TEAM C

  35. This validates the fact that JB was President by default, she was never meant to be one , how can anyone in their right mind endorse two different presidential candidates in the same election cycle??? Kuzunguzika, kikikikikikikiki

  37. How is Chakwera going to talk about fighting corruption when he and JB ( cashgate) are now bedfellows! How does she fit in the H5. ?????
    Kukwatiwa ndi matolera omwe!

    1. Learn to read. It’s on record that cash gate started in 2005 and donors informed the then president but he did not act. JB whom you admonish, (largely due to ignorance of the subject matter) did something someone could not do in 8 years because he was protecting his image.
      It’s on record that k30 billion was what was stolen during JBs reign, almost half of what your clueless mdala has made Malawi pay for the scam at just one institution, Immigration.
      Thank God we Malawians are not brainless cadets.

      1. Alright, you are admitting that MK30B was stolen right under JB’s nose kikikikikikikiki so we are saying the same thing she is a thief

  38. How do you endorse two different presidential candidates in the same election cycle??? Somebody is crazy and I’m glad it’s not me…….is this out of spite?……. Shame ndithu!

  39. Alliance made in hell of serial murderers and serial looters. We saw it coming and are not surprised with the arrangement that PP the master cashgaters would partner with MCP a party of death and darkness. Malawians should bless for tough times ahead. We knew that Chakwera was salivating all along when JB was ramsaking government coofers.

    1. Go and get Panadol for your pain. Just concentrate on your party which has a working relationship with UDF and we all know it is because somebody’s father does not want to go to jail because of the crimes he committed.

  40. A pathological thief and parasite and liar merges with a weak fake Reverend leading a party of murderers. Plunderers snd murderers gave united.!!!

  41. Jehovah is a Sovereign God. Who can stand against the hand of God. It is not by power or mighty but who the hand of God has anointed to lead the nation. We can add or group up to fortify our walls but Jehovah has the final say. He favours who he want to favour, and that is what is going to happen in the elections we are going to have.

  44. Can we replay the 2014 Presidential Debate video and remind ourselves about what Chakwera said about political hooligans

  46. JOYCE BANDA YOU HAVE BECOME A SHAMEFUL ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL PROSTITUTE OF OUR TIME.joyce,can’t you learn from former President of Liberia Johnson Sirleaf who took over Liberia a complete destroyed nation of then 15 million people.As a woman,she indeed worked tirelessly to rebuild Liberia her beloved LAND, WHY NOT YOU ? How would you allow yourself to go in bed with a diseased MAN? No matter what MCP will never wash the innocent blood of our people come what may.I congatulate CHilIMA and UTM for refusing to accomodate Joyce Banda in UTM the choice of the overwhelming Malawians who at times were the victims of the abominable MALAWI CONFUSIONIST PARTY (MCP).JOYCE BANDA,you have lost the respect of Malawians especially the Northerners who were thrown to hell because they were TUMBUKAS,TONGAS as your husband R.BANDA himself a die-hard puppet of Hastings MPHONONGO Banda.Joyce,you have lost moral belief of yourself just because of MONEY.When by the way,are you going to return the money that is related to CASHGATE SCANDAL? Malawians,especially the Northerners who had suffered immensly under the bruttal and tribalistic regime of the MCP under the most cruel leader Hastings Banda.It will take decades and decades for MCP to return into power because of the BLOOD of the innocent people that was spilled unkindly by Banda and his PARTY the MCP.in short Joyce,who killed DICK MANTENJE if not the dreaded MCP? who killed A.Gadama if not the brutal MCP? Who killed Orton Chirwa the founder and President of the MCP? These few people I have mentioned,is just a tip of the ICE-BERG. MCP must be condemned for its killings of the innocent people of our country and apologise to the nation.JOICE BANDA,YOU LOVE MONEY MORE THAN PEOPLE WHO PAY TAXES!!!!!!!!!!!! BAD-LUCK.

    1. Why is noone arresting her or showing us where the cashgate money is if she stole it? Why are they really not arresting her. As for UTM, wasnt SKC asked about JB on hard talk? What did he say he believes about her then?

    2. Mind your own business, you are a DPP supporter, therefore, there is nothing good you can say. don’t you know that people are free to make choices in a democracy?

  47. It has finally dawned on Abiti Mtila kuti PP idatha ngati Makatani when she deserted the party into self imposed exile, Kuba sikwabwino!!!

  52. So its not true that UTM approached PP in the first failed coalition. Its not about Malawi now but dwindling influence. So will you now get the 50-50 that you were looking for in UTM? You withdrew from that coalition because of running mate issues, does thus mean mia will now withdrawal?

  56. This is nonsense, insincere, a combination of nyusansi. If JB had a heart for greater good for Malawi, then UTM was the right choice. It’s only UTM. I repeat, it is only UTM that has a greater good for Malawi osati MCP yayi tele…

  57. Palibe zabwino apa. The reason why DPP sikutekeseka is because JB and her PP are very unpopular. These are buffoons masquerading as pro-poor. Instead, they have further weakened MCP by tainting them with cashgate. Don’t be fooled by numbers in a rally, people in Malawi attend all political party rallies buy when it comes time to vote, they vote for the ruling party. This coalition is just but a publicity stunt, it will not translate into votes.

    1. in 2014 they voted for the ruling party, in 1994 they voted for the ruling party. kagwele and mind the busines of your party

  59. INSIDE THE MCP/PP ELECTORAL ALLIANCE DEAL, ROY KACHALI TO BE FINANCE MINISTER

    Weeks after she withdrew from the UTM/PP deal reportedly because Dr. Saulos Chilima refused to take her son as running mate, former President Joyce Banda has proved to be a materialistic leader after she successfully negotiated to have her son as Finance Minister once the MCP/PP alliance wins the elections.

    We can exclusively reveal that MCP has bulged in to her demands which will further see five other cabinet positions go to PP with the short-lived running mate Jerry Jana and Ibrahim Matola as possible ministers.

    JB has also negotiated to have herself become a salaried international envoy more or less like a Foreign Affairs Minister.

    The former President, infamous for cashgate theft which came after she openly told her ministers in 2014 to find means to fund their campaign leading wanton plunder of public resources, was reportedly keen to have his son as Finance Minister.

    “We wonder what she is up to. She made it clear that if Roy will not be Finance then no deal,” said an MCP insider.

    Banda, who sold Malawi’s presidential jet and claimed to have used the proceeds to buy maize, has further brought discomfort to Khumbo Kachali who earlier also endorsed MCP.

    “There is tension for this deal. MCP veterans are not happy with the demands that Banda has bargained on. Kachali is bitter and so too is Harry Mkandawire as their importance has now been neutralised by Banda’s coming,” said a source close to the talks.

    The source also said running mate Sidik Mia had earlier opposed to JB’s coming, advising the party president Lazarus Chakwera that Banda is a liability in as far as cashgate allegations are concerned.

  60. UTM and DPP WILL NOT SWALLOW THESE BITTER PILLS..EASLY…..

    THEY ARE NOW RUNNING FOR THEIR MONEY….

  61. Decide to look aside and you will be shocked. This alliance as small as the PP party may be, serves the best interests of Malawi and MCP winning. A new dawn rises

  62. Kodi abale IMF ikuti chuma chikuyenda bwino, a Chilima ndi a Kongolesi akuti sichikuyenda bwino. Funso langa nali: Pakati pa awiriwa (i.e IMF ndi a Opposition wa) timvere ndani? M’modzi tu apa sakunena zoona, nde akunama yo ndi ndani? Pepani mwina ine ndine mbuli sindikumvetsa, ndithandizeni.

  64. That is a mistake! MCP was a clean party until this time. Joyce was a mastermind of the infamous cash gate, no question about it. You have now given campaign materials to DPP and UTM. They will say ‘MCP has accepted Joyce Banda into their camp with evil intentions of continuing with cash gate after winning elections’. People were failing to campaign against MCP. Now they will castigate MCP. MCP, why have you done this at the eleventh hour? Why? UTM, can you entice Atupere Muluzi please? He is a clean young man!

  66. So Martha Chikuni was right after all, so what do you say to her now Abiti Mtila and your children??

    1. Silly woman, UTM rejected her demands as they knew that her choice of running mate being Roy was going to work against UTM at the ballot. Now MCP think they are consolidating their position? The alliance between PP/MCP is good for UTM, as likely MCP disgruntled followers due to the alliance will jump ship. Most hardcore MCP supporters wouldn’t want to see this woman on the same podium as Abusa. This woman is a massive liability as she has proved she cannot lead by running away in 2014, and now she has shown to be very unstable and self. Malawi inasintha.

      The alliance is more of a negative thing than consolidating the vote.

  68. MCP IS WINNING THESE ELECTIONS ….JB HAS COME TO MAKE EVERYTHING COMPLETELY CLEAR……..THAT

    CHAKWELA IS WINNING THESE ELECTIONS AND THAT LIABUNYAS PROPHECY IS CONSISTENTLY REVEALING EVERYTHING…

    …..THE WALL HAS FINALY BEEN WRITTEN….

    1. MCP was better off without this unstable woman. She does not even know what she wants. MCP muzamulira mzimayi amenewo. How many votes has MCP and PP lost as a result of the alliance? There are many disgruntled MCP supporters who have jump ship because they know this woman is a liability.

    2. With the whole pp now in MCP. Desperate time with desperate measure wake up MCP and stop believing. You need to act now, faith without action is dead. Stopping living in dream land. Look history repeating it’s self.

    3. I feel the same,this coalition is for the betterment of Malawians not any individual party MCP, FP and or PP!

  70. MCP has become PP2 – Top positions: Kunkuyu, Gwengwe, Mia, Mai Banda. PP 2 will overpower Chakwera

    1. DPP is MCP, look at Dausi, MTaba Mussa , Kasaira, just to mention few!
      Bwanji kuwawidwa kumeneko?

  72. The question now is: Are the voters in the East or Yao Belt more likely to vote for MCP or DPP?
    One can count on the little support PP and Joisi Banda had there evaporating rapidly now. Where those votes will go is anyone’s guess at this juncture; but probably, the majority will not go to MCP or oChakwera.
    And will Northern voters, who pride themselves as independent thinkers when it comes to voting, be influenced by this? Time will tell; but we know that the North was majorly divided between MCP and PP, anyway. Apparently, the Presidential vote may not be affected because of the small overall numbers in that region.
    So, MCP: do not count the chickens yet before the eggs have hatched.
    Feel pity for Jerry Jana: kungoyuzidwa baasi.

    1. Who told you that the choice has Eastern, Western, Central, Northern and Southern?choice is choice! Let people have their choice, you have your choice,leave people alone!

    1. JB is going by the prophesy that she will not win the election from a well known prophet coz malawians are not ready for the woman president .That was way back b4 2014 election and now has decided to obey.And was told to support others

    2. Ukunamatu Iwe! UTM ibakachosa Kaye ma matewela Kaye, kuyendasa Boma siza ma Bebe!! (Goodall Gondwe)

    2. We already have Mia, we saw this coming that is why we even chose our running mate even before your President came out from his sleep. I feel your pain.

  80. Patriotism makes JB a heroine at the time Malawi needs intervention. Her decision is selfless & to be applauded for endorsing Chakwera. Bigger picture perspective is hallmark of a great legacy which will be graced in this Alliance. Chakwera has shown consistency in setting the standard of Servant leadership than others.

  82. Koma JB will not even get 6 percentages. One minute akuti Chilima is the ideal candidate. Next minute Chakwera is the one. Schizophrenic old lady stop wasting our time

  85. Kufuna kuwagulitsa a Malawi malonda a mphaka musova. Mutuluka nawo thukuta malonda amenewo. Cash gate vs Chipani chokupha, nepotism etc. JB you are just giving the Zomba votes to UTM. Very few from Zomba can vote for MCP or even Nkhatabay. Hehehehe UTM is the biggest winner in this Nyusensi combination.

  86. This is signs of desperation and political suicide by MCP. How can MCP talk against corruption when they are in bed with the mistress of cashgate? I see some MCP supporters deciding to vote elsewhere, i also see some PP supporters unwilling to vote for the party of darkness.

    1. You seem not to be in Malawi, how about Albino killings, is this what your Dawn?
      I feel your pain!

  87. APM Slogan at work.
    ‘OTSUTSA NDI AGWEDEZA, NDI ASOKONEZA NDIPO NDI ANYENYANYENYA”. Zachitikazi zaonetsa kuti APM wagwedeza ndipo otsutsa asokonezeka mutu sukugwira. Yes! ikunyenyeka opposition. Maganizo anga akugwilizana ndi amene adati MCP ndi imene yajoina Mia not vis-vesa. Mia former PP powerful man has made sure that PP should enjoy a lion’s share in MCP. Ndangodutsamo khobwe namuonamo koma sindidathyolo. GOD BLESS MALAWI.

  89. While I commend PP for the move, the alliance will not bear straight dividends. A section of the PP supporters will be confused by the last minute decision to go to bed with MCP and therefore are likely to support candidates of different parties other than MCP and PP. This is all due to wrong timing. It is clear Joyce Banda will be the only beneficiary of this alliance while the rest will regret, the way young Muluzi did when UDF joined forces with DPP.

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