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
