There is growing turmoil inside the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) as internal factions clash over who should become the Leader of Opposition between Eisenhower Mkaka and Richard Chimwendo Banda. What began as quiet backroom lobbying has now exploded into a full-blown public confrontation, with social media pages and party sympathizers openly attacking each other.
Two camps have emerged — the Mkaka camp and the Chimwendo camp — each pushing for its preferred candidate, leaving the once-powerful party divided and disorganized.
History Repeating Itself
Political analysts note that these are the same internal wrangles that weakened MCP in the run-up to the 2025 elections. Instead of learning from past mistakes and rebuilding after electoral defeat, the party appears trapped in personal rivalries, ego battles, and poor coordination.
The fight is no longer about national policy or the party’s vision for Malawi, but about who controls the parliamentary frontbench.
DPP’s Discipline Offers a Stark Contrast
While MCP continues to struggle with infighting, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presents a contrasting image of order and focus. After the elections, the DPP quickly regrouped, spoke with one voice, and united behind its leadership with a single mission — to reclaim power.
Observers say MCP could learn from DPP’s strategy and internal discipline. “Politics rewards unity, not noise,” one analyst commented. “And right now, MCP is making too much of the latter.”
MCP Media Team Fueling the Fire
Adding to the chaos, the MCP media team, once a respected wing for party communication and political messaging, has now turned into a battleground for factional propaganda. Instead of articulating policy alternatives or holding the government accountable, the team is busy defending different camps and trading insults online.
This lack of a unified message has made the party appear disorganized, reactive, and internally consumed, weakening its standing among supporters and the public.
The Way Forward: Unity or Oblivion
For the Malawi Congress Party, the path forward is clear — either restore unity, discipline, and focus, or face political irrelevance. If the leadership continues prioritizing personal ambitions over collective goals, the dream of returning to power may fade, not just in 2029 or 2030, but perhaps for a very long time.
In the world of politics, unity is power. And for MCP, time is running out to prove it can rise above internal chaos and reclaim its place as a serious contender in Malawi’s political landscape.
