11/08/2025
Malawi Needs Kabambe–Mtumbuka Presidency Today, Not Tomorrow
When you look at Malawi today, it's clear we are stuck.
As the world around us changes fast, we are still faced with ancient challenges—no jobs for young people, an ever-rising cost of living that is not at par with average earnings, failing hospitals and schools, and a government that always seems tired.
The September 16 elections are almost a month away, and honestly, as a country, we are standing at a major crossroads. Malawians should look at the elections not just as an opportunity to change leaders. What we need as a country now is not just a State President at Kamuzu Palace—we need a new direction.
If we are to move into the future with hope and confidence as a nation, these elections should be about changing our course.
After living through the six years of Arthur Peter Mutharika and the five years of Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, one thing has become very clear: we need fresh ideas to reset. We need leaders who understand the present and have a vision for the future.
And in all earnest, it is clear that Mutharika, at his age, or Chakwera are not leaders ready to take our country into the future.
Truth be told, Malawi at the moment needs a team of the caliber of Dr. Dalitso Kabambe and Dr. Matthews Mtumbuka. These two stand out as the future that Malawi so urgently needs in 2025.
They are not perfect, but they represent hope, energy, and a plan that speaks directly to the needs of young Malawians.
Let’s start with age: Kabambe is 53, and Mtumbuka is 47.
These are leaders who are not too old to understand the digital age and not too young to be naive about the realities of politics and governance. In fact, these two are at the perfect age where experience meets energy. They still have the hunger to prove themselves, and most importantly, they are raising children of their own in this broken system. That means they care about the kind of Malawi their children—and yours—will inherit.
Compare that to President Chakwera, who is already past retirement age. He doesn’t have school-going children. He’s done his part in life. His anger, his motivation, his fight for a better Malawi is simply not there, nor is it the same as someone who still wants their child to get a good job, use a good hospital, and live in a better country.
And then there’s Arthur Peter Mutharika, who is even older—86. The honest truth is, Mutharika has nothing to lose if Malawi remains the same for the next 5, 10, or 15 years. But we, the youth, along with Dr. Kabambe, Dr. Mtumbuka, and parents with children still in their developmental stages, have everything to lose.
What Dr. Kabambe and Dr. Mtumbuka are offering is preparing Malawi for the future.
One of the most exciting promises they’ve made is about creating opportunities for young people to work online for companies across the world, earning as much as MK200,000 a day.
Some people have mocked this idea because they don’t understand how the world works now. But those of us who follow global trends know that countries like Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, and even Nigeria are already benefiting from offshore tech jobs.
Rwanda is now well known for tech innovation that is contributing so much to the country’s economic growth and development. Kenya is becoming a hub for digital finance. Ghana and Nigeria are producing top coders and app developers. Why not Malawi?
Many Malawian youths are already doing this, albeit on a small scale, and all that Dr. Kabambe and Dr. Mtumbuka are promising is to scale this up—by creating enabling policies for the digital economy, setting up tech hubs, improving internet access, encouraging digital skills training, and working with international companies to hire more Malawians.
This is the future. This is what real forward-looking leadership looks like.
Dr. Kabambe and Dr. Mtumbuka are envisioning a Malawi where a young person sitting in Karonga, Nsanje, Dedza, or Machinga can work online for a company in the USA, Canada, the UK, or India—doing things like customer service, programming, digital marketing, or technical support.
No visa required—yet you get paid in dollars while living in Malawi. It’s possible. It’s happening.
Dr. Mtumbuka has vast experience in tech projects across the globe, and he understands how to build this kind of system. Dr. Kabambe, an economist and former Reserve Bank Governor, knows how to create the right digital economic environment for such a local tech job market to develop and grow.
Together, they can change the lives of thousands of young people who are currently just sitting around, frustrated and unemployed.
Yes, the country needs roads and bridges, but personally, I believe that in 2025 these have passed their shelf life as campaign promises. Malawi needs leadership that promises to build a future where young people can earn money, live with dignity, and raise families without begging for handouts.
With dollars coming in and buying power strengthened, it will be easier for all other needs—like good roads, bridges, modern schools and hospitals, and even food sufficiency—to be met.
Honestly, the Kabambe–Mtumbuka team is talking solutions to build a better Malawi, not just for today.
What Malawi needs is a reset button—and the Kabambe–Mtumbuka ticket is that reset button. These two have a long-term stake in Malawi's success. They still have time to deliver, learn, grow, and be held accountable.
It’s time to stop thinking of leadership as a reward for surviving long in politics. It’s time to stop giving power to those who just want to retire in State House. Let’s give power to those who have a plan, the energy, and a reason to build a Malawi that works.
The world is moving fast, and Dr. Kabambe and Dr. Mtumbuka are saying: Let Malawi catch up. Let Malawi lead. Let’s invest in digital platforms that connect our youth to global employers. That is what progress looks like.
Malawi’s better future will not be realized through handouts or donor money. We must work. We must think. We must innovate. We must be creative.
With Dr. Kabambe and Dr. Mtumbuka, we are being given that chance. They are focused on capacity, productivity, and exploiting global opportunities. This is the team Malawi needs now, not tomorrow.
Let’s not wait for 2030 to fix Malawi. The time is now.
When you look at Malawi today, it’s clear we are stuck. As the world around us changes fast, we are still faced with ancient challenges—no jobs for young people, an ever-rising cost of living…
