The race for Speaker of Parliament has begun as two legislators have so shown interest for elections set for October 29 at Parliament Building in Lilongwe.
DPP through its President Professor Peter Mutharika named Blantyre City Chigumula BCA Club Banana Constituency member of Parliament (MP)-elect Sameer Suleman as the candidate over the weekend while People’s Development Party leader Kondwani Nankhumwa, who is Mulanje Central MP-elect, yesterday announced his candidature.
Suleman, renowned for his fiery brand over criticism of the immediate-past Malawi Congress Party (MCP) administration in Parliament, was first elected legislator for his constituency in 2019 on a DPP ticket after twice failing in 2009 on a United Democratic Front (UDF) ticket and in 2014 as a People’s Party (PP) candidate.
From June 2019 to July 2025 when DPP was in opposition, he was chairperson of the Parliamentary Agriculture Committee. He is a businessperson and previously also served as Football Association of Malawi president.
On the other hand, Nankhumwa, who was born on July 3 1978 and has been legislator for his constituency since 2009, has over the years served in various roles, including Leader of Opposition in Parliament and Leader of the House while he was in DPP. He also served in various parliamentary committees, including chairing the Parliamentary Media Committee from 2009 to 2011.
In an interview last evening, Nankhumwa, who is his party’s sole legislator, expressed confidence he could win the position.
Elections for Speakership roles are determined by numbers and traditionally parties bank on partnerships to secure them.
From the 224 constituencies that the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) declared results, DPP secured 78 seats.
DPP is followed by independents with 70 seats while the erstwhile governing MCP has 53 seats and UTM Party with eight. UDF won four while PP and Aford grabbed three each and Freedom Party, National Democratic Party and PDP clinched one seat each.
To attain the Speakership positions, one has to secure a majority of the votes in a first-past-the-post system.
UTM Party publicity secretary Felix Njawala, who won the Mwanza Central parliamentary seat, said last week that his party will support the candidature of its vice-president for the North Catherine Mzumara who has expressed interest to vie for the position of Deputy Speaker.
He said Mzumara, who won the Mzimba North seat, communicated her interest to the party.
Meanwhile Malawi Congress pary have not yet indicated who they are putting up for the position.
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