Mpilo Mizere has secured a second consecutive term as president of the Chess Association of Malawi. The election is complete, but the real work of holding the federation together is just beginning. Kezzie Msukwa, who led Chessam for 14 years before stepping down in 2018, is calling on the organization to move past the divisions that the campaign created.

Msukwa's message to Mizere is direct: leading the people who voted for you is only half the job. The president must also reach out to those who opposed him and those who feel disappointed by the result. He urges Mizere to listen to his critics, value what they contribute, and make sure no one feels abandoned by the federation.

The former leader also has advice for the membership. Supporters and opponents alike should now back the new team and offer constructive criticism. Msukwa believes the federation must distinguish between judgment that builds something stronger and complaints that simply divide. An election determines leadership, he argues, but it should not fracture the members.

Msukwa brings considerable experience to this call for healing. His tenure at Chessam lasted from 2004 to 2018, and he has since held major roles in international chess governance. He served as a FIDE zone president, a member of FIDE's Electoral Commission and Constitution Commission, and as secretary general of the Africa Chess Confederation.

The weeks before the election had been turbulent. Susan Namangale, a former association leader, accused Chessam of refusing to support her bid for FIDE vice presidency, and she questioned whether Mizere's decision reflected official policy or personal preference. Mark Ndipita, who ran for president himself, criticized what he called one-man decision-making at the top of the federation and promised change if elected.