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Presidential Debates Task Force continues with Political Party engagements

Malawi Presidential Debates
17 Jul, 2025
Task Force comprises representatives of the media, government, civil society, and other actors.

The Presidential Debates Task Force on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, engaged the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Secretary General, Honourable Richard Chimwendo Banda, on the party’s candidate, Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera’s participation in the upcoming Presidential Debates.

The Task Force has already engaged representatives of the United Democratic Front (UDF) and People’s Party (PP), and they expressed their interest and commitment to be part of the debates.

Honourable Chimwendo Banda expressed hope that the MCP presidential candidate will be part of the debates. He asked for time to consult before giving a definite answer.

“I will be back on the President’s participation. He [the President] has attended the two debates in the past, and there is no reason not to attend the debates this year. I am very optimistic he will attend,” Banda said.

The Task Force also recently engaged officials from the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), led by the Secretary General, Linda Limbe. The party also principally agreed to participate in the debates but signalled that it will sign the final agreement to participate in the debates once the party president gives it the green light.

The debates, scheduled for August and September, will enhance citizen participation in the democratic process by providing the candidates with a platform to articulate their plans for the country.

The debates will also offer Malawians a unique opportunity to engage with the candidates on critical matters affecting the country.

Task Force Chairperson Golden Matonga stressed the importance of the debates, emphasising that Presidential Debates will foster unity and peaceful co-existence. He said the debates will bring together candidates from different political parties and ideologies to debate and openly agree to disagree on important policy issues.

About the Task Force

The Presidential Debates Task Force is a non-partisan, multi-stakeholder committee comprising representatives of the media, government, civil society, and other actors. MISA Malawi is chairing the Task Force with technical support from the National Democratic Institute (NDI).

The Task Force organised similar debates during the 2014 and 2019 Tripartite Elections.

The Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD) – Vice Chairperson

Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) – Member

Malawi Law Society (MLS) – Member

Public Affairs Committee (PAC) – Member

Media Council of Malawi (MCM) – Member

NGO Gender Coordination Network (NGO-GCN) – Member

National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM) – Member

Political Science Association (PSA) – Member

National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Public Trust – Member

Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) – Member

Nation Publications Limited – Member

Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) – Member

Times Group – Member

Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) – Member

Civil Society Agriculture Network (CISANET) – Member

NextGen Leaders Association (NEGLA) -Member

About MISA

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) was founded in 1992. Its work focuses on promoting, and advocating for, the unhindered enjoyment of freedom of expression, access to information and a free, independent, diverse and pluralistic media.

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