Malawi Congress Party (MCP) is ready to rewrite its own rules to give Lazarus Chakwera another shot at the presidency, despite a constitutional provision barring him from contesting again.
After losing the presidential seat in 2025 and despite a constitutional provision barring Chakwera from standing again, MCP is planning to amend its constitution to pave the way for the former president to contest in the 2030 General Election.
Speaking to local media , MCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwila said the party would likely change its constitution to accommodate Chakwera.
Kabwila said the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) had agreed that Chakwera’s mandate was “solid and intact” and that he remained the best person to lead the party and government.
She said the proposed changes would reflect the position of the party’s structures at all levels, including the NEC.
Kabwila said the party understood what its constitution says but believed it could amend the document to give Chakwera another chance to lead MCP into the next election.
“We would like to make it very clear that we are not saying we do not know what our constitution says. We are very aware of the constitution, but people must understand that laws were made by people and we as a party will sit down and do what we feel will give us the best shot to save this country,” she told The Nation.
She also described Chakwera as a credible MCP member, arguing that his tenure had brought development and made him suitable to lead the party again.