Nelson Chamisa hails Malawi polls and says its a lesson for ZEC in Zimbabwe

HARARE – Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa has hailed Malawi’s recent elections as a model of transparency and democratic maturity, contrasting them with Zimbabwe’s long history of disputed polls.

The poll, held on September 16, saw former Malawi President Peter Mutharika returning to power after securing 56.8 percent of the vote. Incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera garnered 33 percent of the votes.

In a statement titled “Malawi’s Elections: A Lesson in Democracy,” Chamisa congratulated newly sworn-in President Mutharika, describing Malawi’s electoral process as an example of how credible and peaceful transitions of power can be achieved in Africa.

“With Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika sworn in as Malawi’s 7th President, the country has shown what transparent, credible elections can look like.

“This stands in stark contrast to Zimbabwe, where citizens have long been denied the right to freely choose their leaders,” Chamisa stated.

He urged the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to learn from Malawi’s handling of its elections, where “results reflect the true will of the people.”

Chamisa argued that since independence, Zimbabwe has been caught in a cycle of violence, contested results, and state-sponsored obstruction of democratic change.

The opposition leader reiterated his call for a new governance model he termed “Citizenocracy”, a citizens-centred and citizens-driven system of government that promotes accountability and inclusivity.

Chamisa lost the Zimbabwean presidential race twice against President Emmerson Mnangagwa of the ruling Zanu-PF.

In both of those elections, observers noted irregularities such as vote buying, intimidation, and rigging. In 2023, Mnangagwa was reelected for a second and final five-year term with 52.6% of the vote against Chamisa’s 44%.

A few weeks after elections, Zanu-PF, which had not garnered two thirds majority in Parliament, allegedly infiltrated CCC through an imposter called Sengezo Tshabangu who claimed to be the opposition party’s secretary general.

Through the support of the courts and Parliament, Tshabangu fired dozens of CCC MPs and councillors, causing by-elections and ultimately awarding Zanu-PF the two thirds majority.

Against this background, Chamisa decided to dump the part that he formed in January 2022.

While the next elections are set to be held in 2028, Chamisa is yet to announce his new political plan. He, however, continues to comment on the socio-economic and political situation in Zimbabwe.