Title: Malawi 2025 Presidential Tickets: A Comparative Look at the Faces and Futures of the Nation

 

Greenwell Matchaya, PhD

As the sun rises on Malawi's 2025 presidential race, the field of contenders has crystallized into defined pairs, each ticket representing not just a party, but a vision, a legacy, and a strategy for the country. Among the leading coalitions, three tickets dominate the national discourse: MCP’s Chakwera–Mumba, DPP’s Mutharika–Ansah, and UTM’s Kabambe–Mtumbuka. This blog examines their profiles, strengths, and symbolic significance, while offering a broader reflection on what leadership should look like in a democracy.

 

1. MCP: President Lazarus Chakwera and Hon. Vitumbiko Mumba

The ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has once again placed its faith in continuity, experience, and transformation. President Chakwera, a theologian and former seminary principal trained at Chancellor College, brings gravitas, continuity, and national familiarity. His running mate, Hon. Vitumbiko Mumba, is a youthful Minister of Trade from Mzimba and an engineer by training, having graduated from the University of Malawi – Polytechnic. Mumba symbolizes a pivot toward modern economic diplomacy and youth-focused reform. While the run to the selection of the running mate was tense, the outcome has been widely accepted, and the pairing resonates across regions and generations.

2. DPP: Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika and Justice Jane Ansah

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), hoping for a comeback, has resurrected the ticket of former President Peter Mutharika, pairing him with Jane Ansah, a former Malawi Electoral Commission chair and constitutional lawyer. Mutharika earned his first degree from the University of London, suggesting a somewhat detached early academic path from Malawi's own institutions. Jane Ansah, however, is grounded in local realities through her law studies at Chancellor College. The selection doubles down on legal expertise and regional balance. Though the pair brings experience and Southern-Central reach, critics see the ticket as backward-looking. Nonetheless, DPP’s institutional strength in the Southern Region cannot be discounted.

3. UTM: Dr. Dalitso Kabambe and Dr. Matthews Mtumbuka

The UTM ticket, previously driven by the late Vice President Saulos Chilima, now offers a technocratic duo. Kabambe, an economist and Bunda College graduate and former Governor of the Reserve Bank, is joined by Dr. Mtumbuka, a technology and education executive with a background in engineering from Polytechnic. Both hailing from strong academic foundations and bringing northern and southern roots respectively, the pair positions itself as Malawi’s future in a data-driven, innovation-powered age. Some would say, the combination of relative youth and limited political experience may prove to be a double-edged sword, energizing some voters but raising doubts among others about their readiness to govern.

 

Other Tickets at a Glance

• UDF (Atupele Muluzi – Dr. Kalolo): Traditional stronghold in the Eastern Region. The pair offers continuity for UDF supporters and a recognizable name in Atupele. While national dominance has declined, their presence remains a modest but meaningful factor.
• OZAM (Michael Usi – Nazitwere): A fresh and bold entry with strong Southern roots. Michael Usi's charisma and populist connection to ordinary Malawians should not be dismissed outright. OZAM brings diversity to the field.
• Nankhumwa Party (Kondwani Nankhumwa – Bertha Debele): A breakaway from the DPP, this ticket presents a different conservative vision and is likely to draw meaningful Southern support.
• PP (Joyce Banda – Khumbo Kachali): With a legacy of presidency, Joyce Banda remains a respected figure, though her current influence is limited.

 

Universities That Shaped the Leaders

Malawi’s higher education institutions continue to shape the political landscape:

• Chancellor College: Lazarus Chakwera (Theology), Jane Ansah (Law)
• University of Malawi – Polytechnic: Vitumbiko Mumba (Engineering), Matthews Mtumbuka (Engineering)
• Bunda College: Dalitso Kabambe (Economics)
• University of London: Peter Mutharika (Law)

Composite Scoring and Strategic Outlook

Using a multi-criteria decision analysis framework considering factors such as leadership experience, regional balance, public sector track record, communication skills, and institutional strength, the following composite scores were derived:

1. MCP (Chakwera–Mumba): 89/100 – Strong mix of governance experience, policy continuity, technocratic competence, and regional unity.
2. UTM (Kabambe–Mtumbuka): 72/100 – Technocratic strength and regional diversity, but weakened by limited field political experience.
3. DPP (Mutharika–Ansah): 70/100 – Institutional strength and legal expertise, but largely backward-looking with limited generational appeal.

Based on these ticket compositions and historical electoral patterns, the likely outcome in the first round is: MCP > DPP > UTM but this is politics and anything is possible so let’s not read too much into this conclusion.

Whether a rerun becomes necessary depends entirely on what unfolds between now and September 16th, including alliances, ground mobilization, and regional shifts.

 

A Call for Ethical Leadership

In the spirit of Robert Greene’s 48 Laws of Power, Sun Tzu’s Art of War, Machiavelli’s The Prince, the Holy Bible and Quran, and the philosophies of Aristotle and Plato, we must remember that power is not the end, but a means to serve. The best leaders are those who do not forget the people who voted for them, who resist the temptation to govern through exclusion, favoritism, or corruption. Leadership requires wisdom, restraint, and humility.

As Plato reminds us, politics is the highest expression of our humanity, and as Aristotle posits, a full life cannot be lived outside the polis. Let us therefore admire all candidates for their courage to serve, and encourage them to live up to the hopes they inspire.

 

Hope Through Democracy

As the campaign trails heat up, we urge all parties and citizens to focus on the issues, not the insults. May those who win not forget why they were elected. Let leadership be about service, not self enrichment.

Greenwell C. Matchaya, PhD
Economist, Legal Scholar, Public Intellectual, and Pan-African Development Advocate