Update: Second Vice President Enoch Kanzingeni Chihana has been delegated to chair a virtual Southern African Development Community (SADC) security summit scheduled for June 22, 2026, according to Malawi24. The assignment follows recent public criticism of President Peter Mutharika for frequently bypassing his vice presidents to send cabinet ministers to key national and diplomatic events. Chihana will lead discussions involving the SADC Organ Troika on behalf of President Mutharika.
In party politics, senior Malawi Congress Party (MCP) National Executive Committee member Babu Khamisa has abruptly resigned and defected to the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Nyasa Times reports that Khamisa submitted his resignation on June 21, 2026, and immediately appeared at a DPP rally alongside senior officials Chimwemwe Chipungu and Ben Phiri. Khamisa had previously left the DPP in 2019 to join the MCP.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) is threatening to shut down the Karonga-Chiweta section of the M1 Highway. According to Malawi24, the move ends a five-year period of relative silence from the civil society organization.