The Commonwealth has praised 6th Malawi President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera for his role as Commonwealth Envoy to Tanzania, where stakeholders commended his diplomatic approach and commitment to democratic values during a sensitive period in the country’s political calendar.
Chakwera was appointed by the Commonwealth Secretary-General to lead a high-level mission to Tanzania in the aftermath of its conflict-laden general elections, with a mandate to promote dialogue, inclusivity, and adherence to Commonwealth principles.
In a statement the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) said it held its seventy-third meeting in extraordinary session on Friday, 10 July 2026, where among others, received a report on the Tanzania Mission.
“CMAG received with thanks the Report of the Secretary-General on the visit to the United Republic of Tanzania by her Special Envoy, His Excellency Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, former President of the Republic of Malawi, together with an update on the Good Offices process,” reads the statement in part.
With the ongoing peace processes in Tanzania, the “CMAG decided to retain the United Republic of Tanzania on its Formal Agenda at this stage”
The CMAG also welcomed the cooperation shown by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania in facilitating full and free access for the Special Envoy across Dar es Salaam, Dodoma and Zanzibar, and recognised this as an important confidence-building step.
However, the group has reservations with the deteriorating situation in Tanzania and warns of fresh action should Dodoma fail to meet the Commonwealth set conditions.
“Recalling the four conditions identified at its seventy-first meeting on 5 December 2025, CMAG noted with concern that while one of the conditions has been met and another has been partially met, two other conditions remain unaddressed,” say the statement.
CMAG also expressed concern that the situation has deteriorated since the Special Envoy’s visit, including a nationwide restriction on political activities, continuing pressure on civic space, on some social media platforms and media space generally, as well as the unresolved detention and legal proceedings of the principal opposition leader, and an atmosphere of fear among the opposition.
“CMAG agrees to meet again in extraordinary session in September 2026 and invites Tanzania to submit a report on progress in advance of this meeting,” says the statement.
It further says at its meeting in November 2026, CMAG will consider further action in the absence of the expected progress by Tanzania.
of his engagement.
