Arabic version: أليكس ميجور يتحدى قيادة تشيثيولا باندا للمعارضة

According to Allafrica, Malawi Congress Party heavyweight Alex Major has criticised Simplex Chithyola Banda’s appointment as Leader of Opposition and declared his own ambitions to lead the party. Major said the contest to succeed former president Lazarus Chakwera as MCP president had already begun, and urged Chakwera to publicly state whether he intends to stand.

Major said Chithyola Banda should not have received the opposition post, arguing that Gotani Hara deserved it as the more senior MP. He said the same principle had benefited Chakwera earlier in his political career. Major’s comments place the leadership role and the party’s succession plans at the centre of an increasingly public dispute.

He also criticised people advising Chakwera at his Area 10 residence, naming Chithyola Banda, Hon Nangozo, Jessy Kabwila, Henri Mumba and Jean Sendeza. Major described them as opportunists tied to Chakwera’s political survival. He further alleged that members of Chakwera’s inner circle had wrongly assured the former president that conditions were fine before the 2025 election defeat.

Major said Chakwera visited MCP headquarters only three times during his five years as President, but now visits twice a week and has undertaken funeral and church visits apologising to supporters. He said the party had capable leaders beyond Chakwera and was ready for new leadership.

Warning against any constitutional change that would extend Chakwera’s hold on power, Major said such an effort would not succeed and called on him to retire with dignity. Major said he would support Chakwera as a former president if he stepped aside. He also criticised Chakwera’s judgment, including his trust in Sean Kampondeni, and said MCP lost government because of what he described as self-centredness, arrogance and a manufactured image of moral superiority.