MCP MPs Back Chithyola Banda As Leader Of Opposition

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Members of Parliament have agreed to respect the party’s President, Lazarus Chakwera’s, decision to appoint former Finance Minister Simplex Chithyola Banda as the new Leader of Opposition in Parliament.

The resolution was made during a closed-door caucus meeting held at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe, which was chaired by the party’s Secretary General, Richard Chimwendo Banda, and attended by the party’s Vice-President, Catherine Gotani Hara.

After the two-and-a-half-hour meeting, Chimwendo Banda confirmed the development, saying:

“We have all agreed to rally behind the president’s appointee and we will all work together with one purpose, and that is to make MCP stronger as we are eyeing 2030.”

This comes after President Chakwera nominated Chithyola Banda for the position last week—a decision that initially drew mixed reactions from some MPs.

Banda reaffirmed the party’s unity, stating:

“It is true and as a party we are moving forward in unity.”