Oh MCP, You Are Unlucky.
By the Managing Editor
In politics, timing is everything. Unfortunately for the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), its timing may go down as one of the most unfortunate in Malawi’s democratic history.
When the Tonse Alliance, led by MCP, assumed power in 2020 through a historic re-run election, the air was electric with hope and expectation. The courts had restored democratic dignity, and the people had reclaimed the power of the ballot. But barely had the ink dried on the oath of office when disaster began to strike—and it has barely relented since.
The maiden months of MCP rule were met with nature’s fury. Storms, floods, and cyclones, including the devastating Cyclone Freddy, left hundreds dead and thousands displaced. Each disaster not only tested the government’s preparedness, but drained resources, disoriented planning, and left scars that are yet to heal.
Then came another kind of flood—this time of corruption scandals. What began as whispered suspicions quickly turned into headlines: inflated procurement deals, vanishing resources, questionable contracts, and a growing perception that the fight against corruption was more of a political slogan than a serious institutional pursuit. The public, once hopeful, became increasingly skeptical.
To compound the misery, Malawians found themselves in endless fuel queues, punctuated by worsening power outages. Businesses suffered, transport halted, and daily life became an uphill climb. Promises of mega-farms and economic turnaround began to fade into political chants with no action.
As if that wasn’t enough, the final blow came with international isolation. The United States’ Millennium Challenge Corporation froze aid, citing concerns about democratic backsliding and corruption. Recent reports now indicate that Malawian government officials are being denied visas to the U.S. over integrity issues related to immigration fraud. This is not just diplomatic embarrassment; it is a signal that the world is watching—and not impressed.
The unfortunate truth is this: the MCP may not have orchestrated the disasters, but it has largely failed to rise above them. The timing may be bad, yes, but leadership is tested not in calm waters, but in turbulent storms.
As the 2025 elections approach, the party will have to do more than campaign—it will have to convince a weary, disillusioned public that it deserves a second chance. For now, the slogan might as well be: “Oh MCP, you are unlucky!”—but the question ahead is whether that misfortune was just fate, or partly self-inflicted.
The promise, HE doesn’t want to be chancellor of university and yet he is now the chancellor, where is while he is in power.
