Alliance for Democracy (Aford) president Enoch Chihana has publicly conceded that it will be extremely difficult for Malawi’s opposition bloc to unseat incumbent President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera in the upcoming September 16 general election, citing deep divisions, selfish ambitions, and lack of unity among opposition leaders.
Chihana, speaking at a public meeting held in Bangwe Township, Blantyre, painted a grim picture of the opposition’s chances, stating that despite having more than ten presidential candidates concentrated in the Southern Region alone, no significant progress has been made toward forming a united front.
“There are over ten presidential candidates in the southern region—Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, Dr Dalitso Kabambe, Dr. Joyce Banda, Honourable Atupele Muluzi, Honourable Kondwani Nankhumwa among others—but they are all failing to unite into a single alliance,” Chihana told the rally.
He lamented that personal greed and egoism among key political players had stifled any meaningful collaboration or strategic consensus.
“Uku zativuta basi (This is troubling us),” Chihana added, in a candid expression of frustration.
In a contrasting observation, Chihana highlighted what he termed as a strategic upper hand for the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP), noting that President Chakwera remains the sole presidential contender from the Central Region.
This, according to Chihana, gives Chakwera a significant numerical and organizational advantage heading into the polls, especially given the region’s higher voter registration figures compared to the South.
“President Chakwera will be the only presidential candidate from the Central Region. That unity and numerical strength in registered voters puts him in a much more advantageous position,” Chihana observed.
Chihana’s rare public admission comes at a time of heightened political uncertainty and deepening rifts among key opposition parties. Former President Peter Mutharika continues to lead the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), but internal disputes, especially in the Central and Southern regions have weakened the party’s structure and message.
DPP’s leadership has been marred by corruption scandals, court battles over fraudulent academic qualifications, and a failure to present a clear alliance strategy ahead of the polls.
Meanwhile, other opposition figures such as Dalitso Kabambe, Atupele Muluzi, Kondwani Nankhumwa, and Dr. Joyce Banda have shown little to no interest in forming a unified coalition.
Chihana’s remarks echo concerns raised by analysts that the fractured state of the opposition is set to hand Chakwera an easy electoral victory.
Though Aford is a relatively small party with limited influence at national level, Chihana’s statement is significant as it marks the first time an opposition party leader has openly admitted to the opposition’s electoral vulnerability while praising the strategic consolidation by the ruling party.
“It’s not about whether we support Chakwera or not. It’s about facing political reality. You can’t win an election with 15 fragmented candidates who refuse to unite against one strong candidate,” Chihana said.
He stressed that unless opposition leaders urgently put their house in order, they risk handing Chakwera a second term on a silver platter and they will have no one to blame.
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) recently confirmed that the Central Region registered more voters than the Southern Region during the just-ended voter registration exercise, further reinforcing Chihana’s argument that the opposition may be headed for a self-inflicted defeat if they continue to ignore the structural and strategic imbalance.
Political analyst Humphrey Mvula echoed Chihana’s sentiments in a brief phone interview with The Pangolin, saying the opposition has “zero chance of winning” considering their crumbling house.
“Chihana has said what many know but are afraid to admit. The DPP is divided, UTM is unclear, and everyone wants to be president. Meanwhile, Chakwera is quietly consolidating support in the Central Region and picking up key swing areas in the North and parts of the South,” said Mvula.
Chihana’s remarks are expected to trigger renewed calls for the opposition to reconsider their approach to the forthcoming elections, though it remains unclear whether egos and mutual distrust can be set aside with just two months before voting day.
Last week, political activist Undule Mwakasungula also issued a public statement suggesting that the opposition is going into the elections already defeated especially with internal wrangles in the DPP and a history of mistrust between the UTM and other opposition parties continuing to undermine unity efforts.
While Chihana made no direct endorsement of President Chakwera, his tone suggested increasing admiration for the ruling party’s strategic clarity compared to the confusion within the opposition.
Analysts speculate that Aford may opt to support Chakwera’s candidacy or align with a broader government of national unity if opposition disunity persists.
As the September elections draw near, Chihana’s warning may be a last-ditch wake-up call for an opposition that seems more focused on individual ambition and violent tactics than collective victory.
“The writing is on the wall,” said a local Aford supporter at the rally. “We need to unite or get out of the way.”
The Pangolin will continue to track reactions and alliance developments ahead of the September 16 elections.
