Second Vice President Enock Chihana has publicly affirmed a strong working relationship with President Arthur Peter Mutharika following a high-level meeting at State House in Lilongwe, Nyasa Times reports. In a show of unity, Chihana took to social media to describe the engagement as fruitful and expressed his commitment to advancing the national development agenda.
The public statement serves to steady the political atmosphere within the governing alliance. Chihana, who leads the Alliance for Democracy, is a key partner to Mutharika's Democratic Progressive Party. According to Nyasa Times, the alliance recently faced internal pressure during the heated by-election campaign for the Rumphi Central Constituency.
Political observers indicate that Chihana's direct communication is a step to project stability, Nyasa Times notes. By publicly reaffirming his alignment with the president, the Second Vice President aims to dismiss speculation of factional conflicts and demonstrate that the administration remains focused on governance.
Update: Following the passage of the national budget, the Ecofin Agency reports that the 2026/2027 fiscal plan totals 10.978 trillion kwacha, with agriculture receiving the largest allocation at 971.3 billion kwacha. The Ministry of Health and Sanitation was allocated 558.07 billion kwacha, while the Road Fund Administration and the Ministry of Education received 447.1 billion and 316.6 billion kwacha respectively. According to the Ecofin Agency, the International Monetary Fund projects a 2.7 percent economic growth for Malawi in 2026 despite ongoing challenges with inflation and public debt.