By Suleman Chitera
Mzuzu, Malawi – With just weeks to the 2025 general elections, all eyes are on the Northern Region, where three running mates—Khumbo Kachali, Vitumbiko Mumba, and Mathews Mtumbuka—are promising to tilt the national balance of power. For the first time in years, the North isn’t just supplying votes; it’s supplying leaders who want to shape the nation’s destiny.
Khumbo Kachali: “Experience is Our Shield”
At a rally in Mzimba, supporters chant “Tiwina! Tiwina!” as Khumbo Kachali steps to the podium. He smiles briefly before declaring, “Malawi doesn’t need experiments. It needs experience. We’ve been here before, and we know the way forward.”
Kachali, a former Vice President, is widely seen as the region’s most seasoned political figure. “He understands how to work with everyone—North, South, and Centre,” says Grace Ngwira, a teacher in Rumphi. “When he talks about unity, you believe him because he has lived it.”
Vitumbiko Mumba: “The Future Must Start Now”
In Karonga, Vitumbiko Mumba speaks not from a raised stage but in the middle of a crowd. Dressed simply, he tells them, “The future won’t wait for us. We must build it ourselves—brick by brick, policy by policy.”
As Minister of Labour, Mumba has championed industrialization and youth empowerment. “He thinks like us,” says Blessings Phiri, a university student. “He talks about jobs, innovation, and self-reliance. That’s what we need, not just speeches.” Still, some older voters question whether he has the political muscle to turn ideas into action.
Mathews Mtumbuka: “Let’s Fix the Economy First”
Meanwhile, Mathews Mtumbuka keeps his message precise: “A weak economy weakens every dream. We must fix the foundation before we build the house.”
As an economist Mtumbuka brings economic gravitas, but he faces a challenge connecting with rural voters. “I like his ideas,” says a farmer in Nkhata Bay, “but he must explain how they will help me afford fertilizer next season.”
Who Can Swing the North?
Political analysts argue that this race isn’t just about personalities—it’s about what the North wants to be. “Kachali offers stability, Mumba offers innovation, and Mtumbuka offers discipline,” says Dr. Chikondi Banda, a political scientist at Chancellor College. “The question is, who can turn regional pride into national power?”
As one elder in Mzuzu put it best:
“We are tired of being the ladder others climb. This time, the North must also touch the roof.”
