By Chisomo Phiri
Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) president Enoch Chihana has revealed his intention to step down as leader of the party in 2029, marking the end of his four-year term.
He made the announcement during the party’s convention in Lilongwe on Friday night, shortly after delegates unanimously endorsed him as president in the 2025 elections.
In his address, Chihana expressed his desire to leave the stage on a high note, while he is still held in high esteem by the party faithful.
“It is essential to know when to exit, and I believe it’s best to leave while I am still loved and wanted, rather than waiting to be asked to leave,” he said with a smile.
Chihana also took the opportunity to address the notion that AFORD is a family dynasty, emphasizing that it is a political party that happens to have had his father as president, and now him, by mere coincidence.
“This is not a family affair; this is a political party. Just because my father led the party and I happened to follow in his footsteps does not mean it is a family tradition,” he clarified.
AFORD was founded by the late Chakufwa Chihana, father to Enock, who is touted for fighting against tyrannical rule of the Malawi Congress Party(MCP), led by the late Kamuzu Banda in 1993.
Chakufwa Chihana is believed to have led a pressure group of Malawians which resulted into a multiparty referendum in 1993.
In 1994, he contested for presidency on AFORD ticket and lost to Bakili Muluzi, former president of Malawi and United Democratic Front (UDF).
Since 1994, the party has been losing in all elections due to, among other things, politics of regionalism, according to political commentators.
