Member of Parliament for Nkhotakota Central and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) member, Sylvester Ayuba James, has accused the party of facing a leadership crisis, calling for the election of a new leader to address what he describes as a leadership vacuum.
In a Facebook post, Ayuba James criticized MCP leader Lazarus Chakwera for remaining silent following the arrest of several senior party officials and for reportedly going on holiday while they were in custody.
Speaking to Zodiak Online, Ayuba James further attributed MCP’s loss in the September 16, 2025 general election to the leadership’s failure to adequately address issues that arose during its tenure.
However, MCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwira dismissed the allegations, urging the Nkhotakota Central MP to respect the party’s established structures for raising concerns rather than airing them publicly.
In an ironic twist, Ayuba James is also part of the legal defense team representing some of the senior MCP officials facing various charges, including the party’s Secretary General, Richard Chimwendo Banda.