Political scientists warn MCP’s early endorsement of Chakwera for 2030 could freeze out rival talent
Malawi’s Political Science Association has warned that grassroots endorsements pushing Lazarus Chakwera to stand again as the Malawi Congress Party’s presidential candidate in 2030 risk sidelining other capable figures within the party, potentially undermining internal democracy before the race has even properly begun.
The Association’s spokesperson, Mavuto Bamusi, issued the caution after MCP’s District Chairperson for Kasungu East, Chisomo Mbembeza, publicly endorsed Chakwera as the party’s 2030 presidential candidate during a rally in Kasungu.
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While acknowledging that grassroots members are entitled to back whichever candidate they choose, Bamusi insisted that MCP must resist the temptation to anoint a preferred candidate too early, and should instead throw the field open, allowing other potential leaders within the party the opportunity to come forward and contest freely at the party’s national convention.
Bamusi warned that the practice of early endorsements — effectively crowning a preferred candidate ahead of formal internal elections — is common across political parties, but cautioned that it consistently undermines the principles of internal democracy, discouraging genuine competition and denying members a real choice.
The warning comes just a day after Mbembeza told Chakwera directly, during a brief rally in Mtunthama, Kasungu, that local party structures remained firmly behind him ahead of 2030 — the latest in a string of grassroots endorsements that have followed the former president on his recent tour of the region.
The developments highlight a growing tension within MCP between enthusiastic grassroots support for Chakwera’s continued leadership and concerns from political observers that such momentum, if left unchecked, could stifle any genuine internal contest for the party’s top job — a debate likely to intensify as the party edges closer to its next elective convention.
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I AGREE WITH YOU Mbamusi….the part must look into it and make sure the right person is going to lead the part and the nation not just a name we need a a leader not a father who is going to make a difference….I reckon the leadership of His Excellent DR H NGWAZI KB ….a statementship and the true leader for the Nation with NOOOOO…CORRUPT GOVERNMENT OR MINDSET THINGS WERE FLOWING IN A HARMONY AND PEACEFUL ✌️…HE ENDED UP DYING WITH ONLY LESS THAN 26 MILLION IN HIS PERSONAL BANK ACCOUNT…CHECK THE ONES AFTER HIM THEY HAVE BILLIONS AND YET ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO VOTE FOR THEM ARE SCRATCHING THEIR BACKS LIKE MONKEYS IN THE WILDNESS WHILE THEM ARE SLEEPING ON FATCOOKIES ,NO DEVELOPMENT AT ALL JUST PULLING THE NATION TO THE GRAVE …..PLEASE ASSESS THE MINDSET OF EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED IN A LEADER OF THE NATION NOT PART OR CABINET OR FAMILY OR REGION ETC…FEEL SHAME REALLY…SEE WHERE IS GENERAL FARMING AND THE OTHER GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY COMPANY WHICH WERE MEANT TO HELP THE MALAWIAN NATIONALITY AND DEVELOPMENT…ALL ARE GONE TOO…WHY LEADERSHIP IS FULL OF GREEDY PEOPLE WHO DOESN’T CARE ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE…POOR ROAD SHAME REALLY 😉 🤔 😜
Mr political scientist who is a well known DPP member and one point you were appointed by the president to serve in his government.politics is not like marathon race where you all have to start the exactly the same set time.
There are good young men who are intelligent and they have true love for Country, let them take over the party and participate in every move and to make the Party , a better Party for all with free Spirit