Malawi President Chakwera secures his party's support for second term bid

9/8/2024 17:11

        Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera has secured his party's support to run for a second term in next year's election, but his chances of retaining power may depend on his Malawi Congress Party finding a strong alliance partner.
        
        The MCP, which had been in an electoral alliance with the United Transformation Movement since 2020, now lacks a formidable ally after the UTM said it would pull out of the partnership after the death of former Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima in a plane crash in June.
        
        Chilima was the leader of the UTM and his party helped Chakwera secure an absolute majority in the 2020 election. Malawi's political system requires a presidential candidate to secure more than 50% of the votes to be declared winner.
        
        Chakwera told delegates at an MCP convention that endorsed his bid for a second term that he believed support for his party has grown since the last election.