{{Short description|Second Vice President of Malawi and leader of the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Enoch Kamzingeni Chihana | image = | caption = | honorific_prefix = Right Honourable | office = Second Vice President of Malawi | term_start = 5 October 2025 | president = Peter Mutharika | predecessor = Chakufwa Chihana | office1 = President of the Alliance for Democracy | term_start1 = 9 September 2013 | predecessor1 = Godfrey Shawa | office2 = Member of Parliament for Rumphi Central | term_start2 = 2012 | constituency2 = Rumphi Central | birth_name = Enoch Kanzingeni Chihana | birth_place = Rumphi District, Northern Region, Malawi | party = AFORD | father = Chakufwa Chihana | occupation = Politician | profession = Businessman | alma_mater = University of Malawi }}
'''Enoch Kamzingeni Chihana''' is a Malawian politician and businessman who serves as the Second Vice President of Malawi.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=MALAWI |first=FACE OF |date=2013-09-09 |title=Mr. Enoch Chihana has been elected President of the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) |url=https://www.faceofmalawi.com/2013/09/09/mr-enoch-chihana-has-been-elected-president-of-the-alliance-for-democracy-aford/ |access-date=2025-10-07 |language=en-US}}</ref> He is also the President of the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), and a long-serving Member of Parliament for Rumphi Central Constituency.<ref name=":0" /> He is the son of Chakufwa Chihana,<ref name=":0" /> the founder of Malawi's multiparty system and democracy, and the founding leader of AFORD.
== Early life and background == Chihana was born in Rumphi District in northern Malawi. He is the son of Chakufwa Chihana, the veteran pro-democracy activist who led Malawi’s transition to multiparty politics in the early 1990s.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Gunde |first=Vincent |date=2024-12-30 |title=Chihana Declares Opposition Alliance Will Oust MCP in 2025 Elections - |url=https://malawiguardian.com/2024/12/30/chihana-declares-opposition-alliance-will-oust-mcp-in-2025-elections/ |access-date=2025-10-07 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Political career ==
=== Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) leadership === Following the death of his father, Chihana took a role in rebuilding AFORD.<ref name=":0" /> In September 2013, he was elected as the party’s President, succeeding Godfrey Shawa.<ref name=":2">https://www.malawivoice.com/2025/10/06/mtumbuka-pledges-to-support-newly-appointed-vice-president-chihana/</ref>
Under his leadership, AFORD sought to restore its former influence in northern Malawi and remake itself as a national political force. Chihana has maintained ties with traditional leaders in the region, including Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe, as part of AFORD’s revitalization strategy.
=== Member of Parliament for Rumphi Central === Chihana entered parliament after winning the Rumphi Central seat in a by-election in 2012, following the death of Moses Chirambo.{{citation needed|date=October 2025}} He has since retained the seat through successive elections, mostly fighting for youth empowerment, decentralization, and development in northern Malawi.<ref name=":1" />
=== Ministerial positions === Between 2012 and 2014, Chihana served as Minister of Sports and Youth Development under President Joyce Banda. During his tenure, he promoted sports infrastructure development and reforms in youth programs.
=== Pan-African Parliament === In 2018, he was appointed Vice President of the Southern African Caucus of the Pan-African Parliament, representing the SADC region.
=== Appointment as Second Vice President === On 5 October 2025, President Peter Mutharika appointed Chihana as the Second Vice President of Malawi, following the reintroduction of the post as part of a government of national unity.<ref name=":0" /> The appointment was viewed as a move to strengthen ties with AFORD and promote national inclusion, especially in the northern region.<ref name=":0" /><ref>https://www.malawivoice.com/2025/10/05/breaking-news-mutharika-announces-first-cabinet-key-appointments/</ref>
== Political positions == Chihana advocates for a federal system of government, arguing that decentralization will improve development equity among Malawi’s regions. He also supports multiparty cooperation and has called for opposition unity.<ref name=":2" />
== Personal life == He is married and has children. He stays in Lilongwe.
== See also ==
* Second Vice President of Malawi * Chakufwa Chihana * Alliance for Democracy (Malawi)
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Living people Category:Malawian politicians Category:Second Vice Presidents of Malawi Category:Alliance for Democracy (Malawi) politicians Category:People from Rumphi District Category:Year of birth missing (living people)