Suleman Chitera 
By Suleman Chitera
Lawyer Sylvester Ayuba James has delivered a blunt challenge to the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), arguing that its apology to former Tonse Alliance partners will amount to little more than political damage control if Dr. Lazarus Chakwera continues to occupy the party’s leadership.
Ayuba James says MCP cannot realistically expect parties that were part of the Tonse Alliance to simply accept an apology while the person he blames for the alliance’s failures remains at the top of the party.
According to Ayuba James, the central question is not whether MCP can say “sorry”, but whether the party is prepared to take responsibility for the leadership decisions that allegedly undermined the principles of the Tonse Alliance.
He argues that Chakwera must take political responsibility and leave the leadership of MCP if the party genuinely wants to rebuild trust with its former partners.
“An apology without accountability is not enough,” is the substance of Ayuba James’ argument.
The lawyer maintains that the head of a political party cannot distance himself from the consequences of decisions made under his leadership. In his view, leadership means accepting responsibility when things go wrong—not simply allowing spokespersons to apologise after political relationships have collapsed.
MCP Faces the Accountability Question
Ayuba James has also accused Chakwera of favouring family members, relatives and close associates in the running of affairs, allegations that further raise questions about the culture of leadership within MCP.
These are serious political claims, and they place the spotlight directly on Chakwera’s leadership record.
For MCP, the challenge now goes beyond issuing statements of regret. The party must demonstrate whether its apology represents genuine political reform or merely an attempt to repair damaged relationships ahead of future political battles.
MCP spokesperson Dr. Jessie Kabwira has apologised to UTM and other parties that formed the Tonse Alliance, acknowledging that MCP failed to follow some of the principles agreed upon under the alliance.
But Ayuba James insists that words alone cannot rebuild political confidence.
Can MCP Rebuild Trust Under Chakwera?
The controversy raises a fundamental question: Can MCP convince former alliance partners that it has changed while the same leadership remains in place?
Ayuba James clearly believes the answer is no.
His position is that restoring confidence requires more than public apologies. It requires accountability, leadership change and a convincing demonstration that the political mistakes of the past will not simply be repeated.
For MCP, therefore, the debate is no longer only about the Tonse Alliance.
It is increasingly becoming a debate about leadership, accountability and whether Chakwera can continue to command political confidence after the collapse of trust with former allies.
As the political temperature rises, MCP faces an uncomfortable reality: an apology may close a statement, but it does not automatically close the political wounds created by broken agreements and lost trust.
And according to Ayuba James, if MCP genuinely wants to regain the confidence of its former partners, the first step cannot simply be an apology—it must be accountability at the top.
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