Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera has secured his party's support to run for a second term in next year's election after being endorsed by his party members during a controversial national elective conference that ended on Saturday, but his chances of retaining power may depend on his Malawi Congress Party (MPC) finding a strong alliance partner.

MCP, which has been in an electoral alliance with the United Transformation Movement (UTM) since 2020, now lacks a formidable ally after the UTM pulled out of the partnership after the death of former Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima in a plane crash in June.

Lulu Gaboo spoke to political and current affairs analyst Francis Phiri.