Prof. Chirwa for President?

The POST reported this week that Prof. Clive Chirwa has announced his intention to contest both the MMD and republican presidency.

I think the best analysis of the situation is contained in an article by Dr. Neo Simutayi in the POST 26/11/2007. Here is a section of the article...


In case Clive Chirwa does not know, announcing one’s intention to contest the top job is not something that is taken lightly in Africa. Incumbents feel threatened to have individuals they have not anointed to succeed them or to be faced with a prospect of losing political authority and influence to a new contender. The MMD has in effect prohibited any canvassing for the party presidency citing fears that the party may be divided ahead of the national convention.As expected the early reactions to Chirwa’s intentions were quick and confrontational. A senior MMD official and government minister Lameck Mangani said Prof Chirwa should expect to be bruised if he dares contest the party presidency. He said the MMD did not know Prof. Chirwa both at national and provincial levels.Mangani said that: ‘We have a structure to follow in MMD. You do not just come from nowhere and say I want to become the party president and later lead the nation.’ Chirwa should expect more reactions from the MMD’s rank and file in the months to come. People who have invested their political fortunes in the MMD would not want to see their ambitions curtailed by someone they consider an outsider.

I have been thinking about this issue for a number of days and wondering what options are open to Prof. Chirwa. One of him main disadvantage is lack of recognition within the MMD and the country as a whole. Very few people knew who Clive Chirwa was until his PR machine (run by the POST) swung into action with a series of carefully planned interviews and public appearances. To stand a chance of realising his goals, the machine needs to be cranked up to a higher gear. The MMD scrap heap is full of men and women of potential who could not advance to the high positions in the party because they did not have a following within the party. These followers need to be made up of people with a variety of backgrounds to help sell the vision of the candidate for the country and the party.

However, the greatest obstacle he will face could be the current President himself. The President has indicated that he has someone in mind to succeed him as MMD and Republican president. I doubt whether this person is Clive Chirwa. Would the President and MMD cadres take kindly to Clive standing against a candidate anointed by dr. Mwanawasa? The MMD cadres would simply shut the gates to the convention centre and give him the same treatment accorded to Gen Miyanda and co during the infamous 3rd term debate. One also wonders how the likes of Katele Kalumba, Mabenga, Shikapwashya, Kabinga Pande and the other long standing members of the MMD with ambitions for high office would also react to the Clive's candidature. While I welcome Clive's intention to serve the country, I just feel he faces an uphill battle because the MMD as a party will not welcome his 'intrusion'.

The PANEL.