By Burnett Munthali

As Malawi inches closer to the much-anticipated September 16 General Elections, the political battlefield is heating up with high-profile contests taking shape across the country.

One of the most closely watched matchups will unfold on June 7 in Nsanje District, where two political heavyweights—Walter Nyamilandu Manda and Dr. Dalitso Kabambe—are set to go head-to-head.

This showdown is drawing nationwide attention not only because of the stature of the contenders but also due to the strategic importance of Nsanje in the national political matrix.

Walter Nyamilandu Manda, a respected sports administrator and now a rising political figure, has steadily built his reputation on leadership, reform, and grassroots engagement.

His decision to contest has excited a broad base of supporters who see in him a new kind of leadership grounded in integrity, development, and a results-driven approach.

On the other hand, Dr. Dalitso Kabambe brings with him a formidable profile in finance and economics, having served as Governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi.

Known for his technocratic acumen and policy expertise, Kabambe has earned a loyal following that believes he has the intellectual capacity to steer Malawi towards economic prosperity.

The upcoming political duel between the two is expected to be a test of popularity, vision, and political strategy as each seeks to assert dominance in the Lower Shire.

Political analysts are calling it a battle between reformist pragmatism and economic technocracy—a contest that will give voters in Nsanje a clear choice of leadership style.

For Nyamilandu, this contest is a test of his transition from football administration to national politics—a challenge he seems to be embracing with remarkable composure.

For Kabambe, the June 7 event is yet another opportunity to reaffirm his influence in southern Malawi and to mobilize support ahead of the September elections.

Nsanje residents are eagerly awaiting the event, which is likely to feature rallies, policy articulations, and displays of political might by the two aspirants.

This face-off is also a microcosm of the broader contest shaping up at national level, where personalities, party affiliations, and performance records are being weighed carefully by the electorate.

With less than four months to the polls, the June 7 showdown could set the tone for how the rest of the campaign season unfolds in the Southern Region and beyond.

All eyes will be on Nsanje as the political spotlight turns southward for what could be one of the defining moments of the 2025 electoral season.