Malawi: MCP Faces Internal Split Over Chakwera Leadership - Faction Attempts to Seal Offices

What the report says

A public power struggle inside Malawi’s opposition Malawi Congress Party escalated on Tuesday when a group identifying itself as MCP Veterans tried to physically seal the offices of party president Lazarus Chakwera and secretary general Richard Chimwendo Banda, according to Nyasa Times as republished by AllAfrica. The incident was described as the latest sign of a deepening split over Chakwera’s leadership.

The report said some party figures have been openly pressing for a leadership change and want a convention to settle the dispute. Chakwera’s spokesperson, Gift Nankhuni, said he was not aware of any organized move against the party leader. Another MCP politician, Alex Major, confirmed he still wants a convention and believes he could win if a contest is held, while distancing himself from the office-sealing attempt.

Chimwendo Banda took a more conciliatory approach, saying he was willing to hear complaints and work toward a resolution. The dispute matters because MCP is already adjusting to life in opposition after losing last September’s general election, and the public breakdown highlights pressure on one of Malawi’s main political parties. As a broader political context, parties in opposition often face internal struggles over leadership direction after electoral defeat, but the article does not indicate that this crisis has been resolved.