As the Presidential Debates Taskforce continues to engage with various political parties’ leadership ahead of debates scheduled for the August and September 2025 General Elections, Chairperson for the Taskforce, Golden Matonga, has asked all Presidential candidates in the upcoming General Elections to consider attending the organised debates.
He made the remarks on Tuesday in the Capital City, Lilongwe, during the meeting with the United Transformation Party (UTM) Leadership.
According to Matonga, who is also the Chairperson for MISA Malawi Chapter, the UTM part, through its Vice President in the Central Region, Hellen Chabunya, and an aide to the party’s President, Mayamiko Mwinjira, has both revealed that their President, Dalitso Kabambe, is ready to participate in the said debates.
“Our candidate has always been extremely ready for the debates. We will participate in all three debates,” they said.
However, Matonga, whilst welcoming the commitment by the UTM party Leadership, has expressed hope that other parties will follow suit and sign a pledge to be part of the debates.
“The debates are critical in fostering robust dialogue on the ideas to take this country forward; Matonga has said,” he said.
In addition, the Taskforce has also engaged the Leadership of the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP), the People’s Party (PP), the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) to also participate in the debates despite having received their confirmation to attend such debates.
The Presidential Debates Taskforce is a non-partisan, multi-stakeholder group comprising representatives of the media, government, Civil Society Organisations and other actors.
Misa Malawi is chairing the Taskforce with technical support from the National Democratic Institute (NDI).
This Taskforce organised the similar debates during the 2014 and 2019 General Elections with the same memberships in the Taskforce as follows: The Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD), Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), Malawi Law Society (MLS), Public Affairs Committee (PAC), Media Council of Malawi(MCM), NGO-Gender Coordination Network(NGO-GCN), National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM), Political Science Association(PSA), National Initiative for Civic Education(NICE) Public Trust, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), National Publication Limited (NPL), Zodiak Broadcasting Station(ZBS), Times Media Group, Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation(CHRR), Civil Society Agriculture Network (CISANET) and NextGen Leaders Association (NEGLA).
By Macmillan Mozeyo
