The Commonwealth recently appointed former Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera to lead dialogue with government officials, political leaders, civil society organisations, religious and traditional leaders, and international partners.
The appointment has generated mixed reactions in Malawi. While the Commonwealth describes the move as part of its efforts to promote peace, stability, and good governance, many Malawians are questioning both the timing and the necessity of the press briefing Chakwera held afterward.
Ordinarily, when someone is appointed as a mediator, it is not unusual for them to hold a press briefing. Mediators often introduce themselves, explain their responsibilities, and assure the public of their neutrality. This helps build trust. However, Malawi’s political landscape makes this case different, and it is important to look closely at why Chakwera chose to address the nation.
From my perspective, the press briefing served a purpose beyond simply explaining his new role. Chakwera has faced significant criticism since losing the election and leaving office.
Many Malawians were dissatisfied with his leadership, feeling he failed to fulfil his promises, allowed corruption to flourish, and did not fully understand the challenges ordinary people faced. As a result, his public image deteriorated.
Against this background, the Commonwealth appointment may have offered Chakwera an opportunity to rehabilitate his reputation. By holding the press briefing, he may have wanted to remind Malawians that even though he is no longer president he remains respected on the international stage. His message appeared to be: “I may be out of power here, but the world still values me.”
To many observers, the press briefing seemed less like a routine explanation of his duties and more like an attempt to regain trust and relevance among Malawians who, as he once said, had “sent him to the recycle bin.” Instead of quietly taking up the role and allowing his work to speak for itself, he chose a very public approach. This can be seen as a strategy to rebuild his image and position himself once again as an important national figure.
Such strategies are common among former leaders seeking to remain active in politics. Staying visible and being associated with international organisations helps keep them relevant.
However, whether this was appropriate or necessary depends on how Malawians interpret a former president using an international appointment to restore his political standing.
In the end, although the press briefing may have made sense from a communications standpoint, it also appeared politically motivated.
It gave Chakwera an opportunity to project importance and reconnect with a public that had grown disillusioned with his leadership.
Whether this will help him regain trust remains uncertain, but for many Malawians, the timing and tone of the briefing raised more questions than answers.
Read Full Article on Malawi 24
