Barely a year after falling out of favour with voters and losing the September 16, 2025 General Election to incumbent President Arthur Peter Mutharika of Democratic Progressive Party, former President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera is once again being viewed by some desperate and suffering Malawians as a possible alternative ahead of the 2030 elections.
This follows remarks by the leadership of the CCAP Nkhoma Synod expressing support for Chakwera’s potential bid for the presidency in 2030, ahead of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) convention expected in 2029.
Speaking during the funeral service of Honourable Sungisa’s mother at Kasese in Madisi, Dowa District, Reverend E.J. Nkhoma said Chakwera remains the person they believe can provide leadership and serve Malawians better.
“Ifeyo tikuwona ngati chiyembekezo chathu mu 2030 ndinu. Apule opuma chifukwa awa alephera” (“We see you as our hope in 2030. Please prepare yourself because the current leaders have failed us”), he said.
Chakwera, who attended the funeral, was seen nodding as the remarks were made.
Chakwera lost the presidency in the September 2025 elections after being defeated by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, who returned to power after securing victory.
During the 2025 campaign, Mutharika criticised Chakwera’s administration, accusing it of failing to address economic challenges and governance concerns.
However , the controversial CCAP Nkhoma Synod has historically maintained close ties with the MCP, a relationship that has often attracted political debate because of the church’s influence in Malawi’s political landscape questioning its legitimacy and neutrality in matters of governance.
Former President Chakwera has finished his two terms as per the MCP constitution and has not come open if he will stand again in the 2029 MCP convention and later for the presidency in 2030 .