Chakwera open for re-election but vows not to seek third term
President Lazarus Chakwera has said he is legally allowed to seek re-election and have a second term five year term but would not stand for a third term.
Chakwera said in a virtual interview with Voice of America Straight Talk Africa host Shaka Ssali that the constitution does not give him the right to seek a third term.
He was responding to a question from the journalists if he would be tempted to run for office again after 10 years in power – assuming he gets re-elected in the next polls.
“I will abide by what the [Malawi] Constitution says [on presidential term limits],” said Chakwera.
The Constitution allows a President to run for five years as first term and can seek re-election for a second and mandatory another five years term. But a President cannot seek a consecutive third term.
“There will be no third term or sad term for me,” said Chakwera.
“We must remember is; what the people want and people decides,” he added.
Put to him that some people may persuade him to elongate his stay in power, Chakwera said he would not entertain such temptations.
“No one is indispensable, nobody stays forever. Nobody is indispensable,” stressed Chakwera.
“I have learned to empower the power [and prepare succession]. Let’s not believe on that fallacy, nobody is indispensable,” said Chakwera –a cleric who served as Malawi Assemblies of God president before joining frontline politics in 2013.
In the run-up to June 23 presidential elections, State Vice-President Saulos Chilima is on record saying he would succeed Chakwera after his term expires in 2025 even though he would be allowed by the Constitution to seek fresh mandate.
In a public rally at Njamba Freedom Park in Blantyre, Chilima said he would be the alliance’s next presidential candidate after Chakwera in line with their rotational leadership arrangement.
But Chakwera in ‘Times Special’ television interview with Brian Banda [now his spokesperson] before the elections said: “That’s not true and nobody has said that.”
However, Chakwera’s whose Malawi Congress Party (MCP) is leading the nine-party Tonse Alliance led government has warmed up to as second term, in his assertions that he would abide by what the Constitution says.
Political commentator Emily Mkamanga has stated that the Tonse Alliance led government has started on a positive note with Cabinet ministers out and about working while the vice-President Chilima has put a stamp that the government will not tolerate laziness and theft.
“The President is frequently giving reports to Malawians. With such hard work the promises are likely to be achieved soon,” she pointed out.
Tonse Alliance comprises nine parties including support from human rights activist-turned-politician Timothy Mtambo who is leading Citizens for Transformation Movement and is serving in Chakwera’s Cabinet and Minister of Civic Education and National Unity.
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The majority of your comments here are beating the bushes, I hope people did not understand that the journalist form Voice of Africa straight talk was the one who asked Chakwera about the third term after a political disruption erupted in Mali. Is his view and opinions to express as he wishes. Now I understand that the majority of Malawians vote their leaders due to their personality not experience.
You can not start of ,2025, whilst on the ground things are not moving. People are being arrested for not wearing masks, poverty is still rampart, choice of people to positions as top officials seems nepotic. So for my case I voted for Tonse but now it’s chimodzimodzi ndi DPP
Mphepo yayambika ku Tonse alliance
The manifesto which mcp is implementing now is actually Chilima’s. So, on what basis shall Malawians vote for the sleeping Chakwera again instead of trying Chilima whose ideas dominate those of abusa in every aspect? Chakwera chako palibe. You can continue with your agenda of pleasing Chewas but sorry, forget about the second term. We are pushing for Chilima or Nankhumwa in 2025 not gogo Chakwera any more. Instead of talking development wayamba kale kunena za second term? Shame aneneri onyenga. Just go back to continue fooling your lunatics in the Assemblies of God.
Chakwera’s advisers should take Mandela’s approach. He will be praised for ever kuti anatipumutsa from DPP claws an fangs of selfishness, nepotism cronyism.
Chilima and others Tonse leadership sacrificed for that cause. There’s a different leadership style in Chilima that the country can benefit from while he is still young and energetic.
Kachilima phuma koma. 2025 is for Nankhumwa not Arafat Hamdan.
Chakwera is mandated by the constitution to do that. Alliances are not legally binding. No body is indeed indispensable and we will at one time die. Bakili Muluzi and APM think that they are indispensable in their parties. Nkhalamba zopanda nkhalidwe izi. Zakuba.
Abwana Chilima, ng’oma yolilitsa siichedwa kung’ambika. Atambwali sametana.
So this time he has crossed the bridge before he reaches there
He who has ears, let him hear. He who has eyes , let him see.This is just the beginning!
That’s what all fools think. Malawians rejected to be like Singapore and soon they will reject chakwera’s tribalism and central region focus
You cant even talk about a third term…dont even think about it Bwana President. But also if you indeed agreed with SKC that you will do one term and he will succeed you in 2025 then your interview with Shaka is unfortunate unless you informed Chilima prior to the interview that your agreement is void and you will seek re-election. Chilima hearing it on an interview that you plan to seek re-election is bad faith from you. Dont be that guy who does not keep his word. It will not end well for you too
We will choose another party to lead us in 2025. We don’t recycle the same party. If you have forgotten, 2014 it was DPP replacing PP, in 2019 MCP replacing DPP and in 2025 it will be another party. We know that our politicians are power hungry so we need to show them the exit button before they become dictators.