Lilongwe, Malawi — Minister of Trade and Industry, Vitumbiko Mumba, has announced his resignation from the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) National Executive Committee (NEC), citing frustration with the party’s internal governance and leadership conduct.
Mumba made the announcement through a statement shared on his official Facebook page, where he expressed deep concern over the party’s direction and internal politics. While distancing himself from the NEC, Mumba emphasized his continued loyalty to the MCP as a political movement.
“I remain a committed member of the Malawi Congress Party,” Mumba wrote. “However, I can no longer be part of a structure that promotes ‘small-mega battles’ and primitive politics at the expense of unity, transparency, and service to the people.”
The minister, who also serves as a Member of Parliament, revealed that his decision followed months of soul-searching. He said he wants to refocus on delivering meaningful development to his constituents rather than being drawn into “petty power struggles” within the NEC.
Mumba also launched a scathing critique of the current NEC structure, alleging that more than 80% of co-opted members neither contested for their positions at the party’s convention nor paid the mandatory nomination fees.
“This has led to the sidelining of genuine, elected individuals who believed in a transparent process,” Mumba stated. He further hinted at misinformation and internal sabotage allegedly orchestrated by some senior NEC members—an issue he said he will publicly address after concluding a pending court case.
Reacting to the development, MCP’s second deputy publicity secretary, Ken Msonda, said the party’s Secretary General, Richard Chimwendo Banda, or National Publicity Secretary, Jessie Kabwila, are the appropriate officials to speak on the matter.
However, multiple attempts to reach Chimwendo Banda and Kabwila for comment were unsuccessful, as both did not respond to repeated phone calls by press time.
Mumba’s resignation adds to growing tensions within the MCP, as internal grievances continue to surface in the run-up to the 2025 general elections. Party insiders suggest the fallout may prompt a wider conversation about inclusivity and accountability within the party’s top ranks.
