By Burnett Munthali
Karonga rights activist Lytone Mangochi has voiced strong criticism of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), asserting that the unity of opposition parties against the use of SMARTMATIC technology in the 2025 elections has significantly weakened the MCP’s ability to influence the outcome. Mangochi argues that calls to exclude SMARTMATIC, combined with the push for independent ICT auditors, have forced the ruling party to rethink its strategy and focus more on grassroots engagement.
In his statement, Mangochi claims that the MCP, sensing diminishing power, has ramped up efforts on the ground to encourage voter registration. “They have realized they cannot rely on electronic vote counting in 2025, and now they must appeal directly to the people,” he explained. Mangochi stressed that Malawians, united in their demand for a fair and transparent election, are insisting on manual vote counting, as was done in the 2020 elections that brought President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera to power.
Speaking in a video clip circulated widely on social media, Mangochi assured opposition parties of his commitment, alongside prominent figures like Bon Kalindo, Game Changer, Mtanyiwa, and former President Bakili Muluzi, to support peaceful actions aimed at ensuring electoral integrity. He urged opposition parties to mobilize their supporters for demonstrations, saying that only a strong show of public demand would make it clear to the MCP that Malawians are disillusioned with its leadership.
“Malawians are angry with you,” Mangochi declared. “We don’t want you leading us until 2030; your leadership has failed us.”
Mangochi went on to praise the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and former President Arthur Peter Mutharika for their humanitarian efforts in Machinga, where they distributed free bags of maize to residents who had resorted to eating wild plants like chitedze for survival. He expressed hope that the MCP would follow this example, providing food aid to hunger-stricken areas like Machinga and Nsanje instead of allocating K2.8 billion to construct a mausoleum for the late Gwanda Chakuamba Phiri.
However, Mangochi voiced disappointment in the Umodzi Party, accusing it of siding with the MCP. He urged Justice Mtalimanja, the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson, to resist calls for her resignation amid claims of partiality toward the ruling party. Mangochi argued that opposition critics lacked concrete evidence to suggest that Justice Mtalimanja would aid in election manipulation, and he took a jab at Umodzi Party’s inability to fund a media conference to clarify its stance.
As Malawi approaches the 2025 elections, Mangochi’s statements reflect the heightened political climate, with opposition parties rallying to ensure transparency in the electoral process and calling for a government that is more responsive to the needs of its people.
