Malawi: Kabambe, Atupele Set for Showdown As Chakwera and Mutharika Shun Debate

Malawi: Kabambe, Atupele Set for Showdown As Chakwera and Mutharika Shun Debate

All eyes tonight will be on Dalitso Kabambe of UTM and Atupele Muluzi of the United Democratic Front (UDF) as the two youthful candidates face off in the first 2025 presidential debate in Lilongwe--an event already overshadowed by the dramatic withdrawal of President Lazarus Chakwera and former president Peter Mutharika.

Chakwera And Mutharika Boycott Malawi Presidential Debate 2025

On August 21, 2025, the presidential debate in Lilongwe delivered an unexpected turn in Malawi’s election narrative. The event, initially anticipated as a showdown of frontrunners, instead saw the spotlight fall upon a compelling trio: Dalitso Kabambe (UTM), Atupele Muluzi (UDF), and—decisively—former president Joyce Banda (People’s Party). 1. Pre-Debate Dynamics: A Stage of Strategic Absences Leading up to the debate, headlines were dominated b…

Lazarus Chakwera, Peter Mutharika boycott debate

Two front-runners in the September 16 presidential elections, President Lazarus Chakwera and former president Peter Mutharika, have withdrawn from the debate targeting presidential hopefuls, which …

Chakwera, APM shun presidential debate

Incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera and his predecessor Peter Mutharika have shunned tonight’s presidential debate in Lilongwe meant to enable candidates in the September 16 General Election articulate their agenda to the electorate. By close of business yesterday, only United Democratic Front (UDF) presidential candidate Atupele Muluzi and UTM Party torchbearer Dalitso Kabambe had confirmed their participation while former president Joyce Band…