By Burnett Munthali
Lyson Goodwin Sibande has sparked fresh discussion on his Facebook page with a bold analysis of President Chakwera’s decision to commission an inquiry into the tragic Chikangawa plane crash, which claimed the lives of Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others. According to Sibande, this move strategically weakens the Opposition ahead of the 2025 general elections.
The long-awaited inquiry into the crash is now underway, but rather than welcoming it, Sibande observes that political figures in the Opposition seem to be undermining it. He argues that they are casting doubt on the credibility and composition of the Commission of Inquiry, despite having initially called for it. Their skepticism, according to Sibande, is a calculated move to keep alive the narrative that the crash was not accidental but rather an assassination engineered by the ruling party.
Sibande claims that this tactic is central to the Opposition’s strategy for the 2025 elections. If they can sustain public suspicion that the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) was involved in Chilima’s death, they can use it as a powerful weapon against President Chakwera during the campaign. However, with Chakwera now moving forward with the inquiry, the Opposition’s primary narrative is at risk of being dismantled.
Further complicating matters for the Opposition, the inquiry is set to conclude by November 30, 2024. Sibande predicts that the release of the report will trigger intense debate in early December but that public interest will fade as the festive season approaches. By the time the 2025 campaign period officially begins, the Chikangawa plane crash will no longer be a central issue, leaving the Opposition without the ammunition they had counted on.
In Sibande’s view, this is a masterstroke by President Chakwera. By addressing the crash inquiry early and efficiently, the MCP has effectively “denuclearized” the Opposition’s primary campaign strategy. As a result, the Opposition may find itself scrambling for a new narrative as the election approaches.
