By Our Reporter
Political commentator Morton Baghaya has urged the Malawi Congress Party to remove senior officials, including Secretary General Richard Chimwendo Banda, to avoid a fate similar to the United Democratic Front’s collapse.
Baghaya said he posted a call for Chimwendo Banda, President Lazarus Chakwera, and their inner circle to step down so MCP can be rebuilt in the eyes of Malawians, and the post drew widespread public reaction.
He listed the main responses he received from readers.
Some claimed he was a DPP operative.
Others said he was targeting Chimwendo Banda and Chakwera because they are Chewa.
Some alleged he had been sent by Ken Mumba and Ayuba to destabilize MCP.
Another group argued that Chakwera remained a marketable brand who would not be hard to sell to Malawians in 2030.
Others asked why Donald Trump and Arthur Peter Mutharika did not resign after losing elections, and why people in office never step down.
Baghaya responded to each point in turn.
He said that if being called a DPP supporter makes him one, then he is also born again.
He dismissed tribal framing, stating that MCP is not a Chewa party, even if many leaders are Chewa.
He argued that it is the mindset of treating the party as a tribal vehicle that makes people see it that way.
Baghaya said he is not the one who pushes chiefs to urge people to vote for a fellow Chewa.
He said he is not the one who counts registrants in the Central Region and treats them as automatic MCP votes.
He also said he is not the one who agreed with Chefo that when MCP wins, key positions should go to Chewa.
He noted that MCP appointments often end up in Chewa hands, and if people see that as a problem, it is the commentators who raise it, not those who make the appointments.
Baghaya said he considers Ayuba, Mumba, Anthony Masamba, and other young people who appear capable of changing the country as his free “jiyaman,” but clarified that this current statement is his alone.
He then addressed the argument about Trump and Mutharika.
He asked why Trump lost in 2020, answering that Trump mismanaged COVID-19, communicated poorly, and oversaw a damaged economy.
He said voters turned to Joe Biden hoping for change, but Biden’s performance disappointed many, and his age caused concern, especially after Democrats blocked primary challenges.
He noted that Biden had a visible health incident during a debate.
Trump returned to power, Baghaya said, not because he was strong, but because people were frustrated and angry.
He added that Trump is now damaging America’s institutions and pushing the country toward war and corruption.
On Mutharika, Baghaya said APM had already failed before the 2020 election.
He cited daily demonstrations, a failing economy, and public sentiment that MCP, with Saulos Chilima, might bring change.
But he said he has never seen leadership as clueless as Chakwera’s.
Instead of reforming systems, Chakwera’s administration enjoyed them, he said.
Baghaya criticized the appointment of the president’s children to embassies, the daily posting of photos with foreigners, and the distribution of jobs to Kamuzu’s relatives, Chakwera’s in-laws, friends, church allies, party mobilizers, and others.
He said this mismanagement of public resources made people say even APM’s era looked better.
Baghaya concluded that APM won in 2025 because Chakwera was the worst president Malawi had seen.
He said that even if a chicken had stood against Chakwera, it would have won, which is why many said “at least let them go.”
He stressed that DPP is not the solution, but it is better than Chakwera.
He asked whether Malawians want Chakwera, Chimwendo Banda, Zamba, and Kunkuyu back in 2030.
Baghaya said Malawi now needs a leader who is decisive and different from both Chakwera and APM.
He criticized the current crop of leaders who buy maize flour and T-shirts, hire musicians, and think that changes Malawians’ minds.
He said the system itself must be refreshed.
He added that APM will not run in 2030, and DPP must find and market a new brand, without fear of change.
Baghaya warned that waiting for opponents to mess up more than your side does is not patriotism.
He asked why Malawians cannot simply put in place someone who will fix the system.
