From Canaan dreams to harsh realities.

By Michael Martin//MALAWI

°°As 2025 elections loom, Chakwera faces a trust deficit.

Five years ago, the streets of Malawi were filled with jubilation. It was a victory that symbolized hope, a fresh start for a nation weighed down by years of alleged corruption, nepotism, and unbridled arrogance.

President Lazarus Chakwera and his Tonse Alliance rode into power in July 2020 on a wave of court sanctioned goodwill, vowing to deliver “a better Malawi for all” and lead citizens to a symbolic Canaan a land of opportunity, justice, and prosperity.

Fast forward to July 19, 2025, Chakwera stood before a matitude crowd at the Bingu National Stadium, launching his second term bid by unveiling the 2025 Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Manifesto.

He expressed gratitude to the nearly 2 million Malawians who entrusted him with their votes in 2020 and urged them to give him another five year mandate.

“Your votes set me and my administration on a five-year journey to transform the country,” he said.

“A journey that faced numerous challenges, including the Covid pandemic that disrupted socio-economic activities.”

He pointed to achievements job opportunities for the youth, the construction of the National Cancer Centre, reforms in the security sector, and unprecedented anti corruption efforts.

Yet, even in his optimism, Chakwera admitted some 2020 promises remain unfulfilled.

With general elections scheduled for September 16, 2025, Malawians are now faced with a defining choice, renew the Tonse mandate or chart a different course.

But a growing number of citizens remain unconvinced. Many feel the dream of Canaan has instead become a mirage, and some now question whether their 2020 vote was worth it at all.

Speaking in an interview, a 35 year old business man, Biyola Bonomali, Vice Chairperson of Mponela Main Market Committee in Dowa thanks he cursed his vote.

“The hope has faded completely,” says Bonomali.

“Look at the mess in the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP). Malawians are crying day in and day out because what was promised is not happening.”

A mother 4 chidren in Ndirande, Blantyre, Grace Mvula echos similar sentiments, citing unfulfilled promises of 1 million jobs, rising prices of basic commodities, corruption, forex shortages, and continued poverty.

“We still have the same development projects from Mutharika’s time. What has changed?” she asks. “I regret voting.”

In Mangochi, Joseph Banda, a welder and father of three, commends the administration’s improvements in security but believes overall, the government has failed.

He said: “Unemployment, forex scarcity, and inflated prices have worsened. There is no transformation.”

Banda said a significant chunk of the population believes Tonse has repeated the sins it vowed to eliminate in 2020.

“They promised to clear the rubble, but now they’ve become part of it,” said Banda, citing corruption and lack of youth empowerment. “The cost of living is unbearable.”

In Neno, businessman Foster Matola rates the administration 3 out of 10.

Matola suggested that: “We are worse off. The kwacha has been devalued. How can we survive?”

Natalia Sato, a youth from the same district, gives the government a 2 out of 10 for failing on the job creation promise that Chakwera has resurfaced with now.

He said nepotism has also crept back into public discourse.

James Amidu from Mchinji claims job advertisements are a smokescreen.

“Only those connected to power get employed,” he said.

While some applaud early health-seeking campaigns and security sector promotions, many are disillusioned with the persistent drug shortages in public hospitals and mismanagement of the AIP.

“The health system is in shambles,” says Florence Salima, a mother of four from Machinga. “They should have stepped down.”

“Chakwera must emulate Traole,” adds Abdul M’bisa, Chairperson of Liwonde Market.

“He sees juniors looting and stays silent. We can’t end corruption with this kind of leadership,” he said.

In a separate interview, Church and Society Executive Director, Reverend Master Jumbe, rates the administration below 40%.

He thinks: “They must revisit their manifesto. There’s widespread nepotism and corruption.”

In his remarks, Political analyst Wonderful Mkhutche goes further, rating Chakwera’s leadership 3 out of 10.

“The 3 is for goodwill, but the remaining 7 represents his failure to be a transformative leader. He must adopt a hands-on leadership style,” says Mkhutche.

Human Rights Defenders Coalition Chairperson, Gift Trapence, also decries regional bias in appointments, warning that the Tonse Alliance is showing the same tribal favoritism that led to DPP’s downfall.

Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu admits the road has been bumpy, citing global economic shocks, natural disasters, and Covid-19.

But he insists that Chakwera’s administration has laid solid democratic foundations.

“This is the only time we have seen top ranking officials suspended or fired over corruption. We now have a well-funded Anti-Corruption Bureau, a president who answers to Parliament, and strengthened rule of law,” says Kunkuyu.

He also highlighted infrastructure development, diplomatic restoration, and a unified national spirit.

He added that, “We are not yet there, but the journey has started as we are seeking anotherchance to lead thecountry.”

“In 2020, you had so much goodwill. You made so many promises. And you have failed. What reason does anyone have to vote for you again apart from your speeches?”

One lingering concern is the silent disintegration within the Tonse Alliance. As internal fractures grow louder, questions are being raised: Can the alliance survive the upcoming elections? Will it remain united behind Chakwera’s second term bid?

In launching his new manifesto, President Chakwera has made a final appeal to the electorate.

He appealed to the Malawians that: “Trust me again.” But trust is not automatic. It must be earned.”

With the elections set for September 16, Malawians now stand at a critical crossroad.