The former governing Democratic Progressive Party says it is ready to lead mass demonstrations against MEC’s rejection of ICT audit some opposition political parties had requested and it’s insistence of the use of Election Management Devices (EMD) in the 2025 election. The warning was sounded by DPP Vice President for the Southern Region Hon. Joseph Mwanamvekha during a rally the party held over the weekend at Desert Ground in Bangwe Township. There are unprecedented loud calls from opposition parties for ICT audit ahead of the September 16 polls but MEC remain stiff-necked. Apart from DPP, two other opposition parties Aford and UDF have also raised serious concerns over the same issue. The former finance minister lambasted the government for its bad economic management which has resulted in acute shortage of forex thereby impacting negatively on the performance of the private sector. Mwanamveka outlined DPP’s first mammoth task when the party returns to power, revitalizing the economy, revamping Admarc and NFRA are among the priorities. Mwanamveka said devaluation of the Kwacha brings more misery to the citizenry and it has never bitten a solution anywhere in the world, this was in reference to last year’s 44% devaluation which the Reserve Bank implemented which has brought profound suffering to Malawians. Asked by reporters about the healthy of DPP leader Prof Arthur Peter Mutharika, Mwanamveka denied rumors that Mutharika is sick and said the former president is in robust healthy. “Those spreading the rumor are afraid of Mutharika because he is the front runner in the presidential race”- Mwanamveka added. He also says APM Is Alive, Well and fit to be DPP or Alliance Torch Bearer. The rally was well attended and DPP senior officials in the southern region, shadow MPs and Councilors were in attendance.

The so called Msundwe Barracks Cadres that killed a police officer Imedi, hack with panga knives, harass and beat supporters of other political parties in central region during the post election violent demonstration in 2020 continue their violent attacks against members of the opposition DPP in the Region. Reports coming in indicate that there was chaos at Chimbiya where MCP cadres from Msundwe were busy removing DPP flags and this did not go well with people in the area. Though MCP Msundwe cadres were armed with guns, irate people defended themselves and killed one Msundwe Gangster in the process while shouting, “We don’t want Chakwera”. Incidence of political violence is a new normal in the central region where other political parties are not allowed to operate in the region. There have been a couple of violent incidences that have not been addressed by the police to date. During the 6th Public Affairs Committee Conference which was held in the commercial capital city of Blantyre from the 20th-21st September 2025, participants pleaded with the Malawi Police Service to enhance security which in turn would ensure more public participation in politics and elections The opposition Democratic Progressive Party DPP through its Director of Elections, Commissioner Dr Jean Mathanga asked the Malawi police service to be as much professional as possible in order to repair its damaged reputation and trust. Dr Mathanga also appealed to the police to arrest perpetrators of political violence and devise it’s security plans in those areas deemed political violence hotspots. She pointed out that among the areas identified as political violence hotspots, Lilongwe Central, Nsundwe, Mzuzu, Karonga, Nkhotakota Central and Nsanje Lalanje featured highly and need special attention. When Alliance for Democracy – AFORD was given the floor, the party’s Director of Elections David Brown Katete condemned the Malawi police for carrying out arbitrary arrest of opposition members only while those from the governing Malawi Congress Party go scort free and enjoy police protection. The Inspector General of the Malawi Police Service, madam Merylyne Yolamu said her organization is doing all it can to stem political violence but admits that there are challenges. She said behind every political violence, there are visible and invisible hands and this is what sometimes, delays arrests. MCP under Chakwera sent a good number of youths mostly from Msundwe to be trained in paramilitary activities at Msakataka Police Training School for obvious reasons. Meanwhile, reports indicate that atleast one MCP Msundwe Thug has been killed and 20 others injured in the fracas by people who are chanting; “Chakwera Must Go”. The victims are receiving medical attention at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe. Publicity Secretary for MCP, Jessie Kabwila says, she is suspecting that DPP members are the ones who have injured members of the Malawi Congress Party MCP who attacked innocent people attending a rally organized by DPP Vice President for the Centre, Hon. Alfred Gangata. Details of the story will be covered in our subsequent reports.

Hon. Sidik Mia, a former member of the DPP, joined the MCP and rose to the position of Vice President. However, his life was cut short under mysterious circumstances. Saulos Chilima, a prominent figure within the DPP as a Vice State President, formed an alliance with the MCP through his own party, UTM. Unfortunately, he met his untimely demise in a mysterious and tragic plane crash. Today, we mourn the loss of Hon. Joyce Chitsulo, also originally from the DPP, and joined MCP as its Deputy Minister who has passed away. She was involved in a car accident recently. These unfortunate deaths raise questions as to why only the MCP is at the epic of such tragedies. Tilire bwanji aMalawi?

On a sad note, Deputy Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture who was also Member of Parliament for Mwanza West Joyce Chitsulo has died. Hon. Chitsulo has passed away at Kamuzu Central Hospital where she was receiving medical attention after being rushed to following her collapsing in the early hours of today Friday, June 6th, 2025 as per local media reports. Chitsulo dumped DPP that sponsored her to win Mwanza West Constituency as Member of Parliament and was working with MCP as Independent candidate for the September, 16, 2025 parliamentary Elections.  

The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP),  has unequivocally condemned the actions of President Lazarus Chakwera and the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) administration in their misguided “citizen engagements” in a Press Release published on 4th June, 2025. DPP Presidential Spokesperson and National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Shadrick Namalomba, MP states that these gatherings are nothing more than a misuse of public funds intended to sway political loyalty and influence public perception as we approach the tripartite elections scheduled for September 16, 2025. He further reiterated that the Malawian people deserve better and that the K50,000 handed out to participants is a superficial gesture that fails to address the fundamental needs of our citizens. The party decries that the handouts neither resolve the high cost of living nor provide lasting solutions to the problems of government-induced hunger, skyrocketing poverty, and rampant youth unemployment. These are the issues that should demand the full attention of any conscientious government—a government that seeks the welfare of its people above the entrenchment of its own power. He said. Furthermore, the DPP expresses its concerns that the credibility of the forthcoming elections is at stake due to the involvement of civil servants, who are being invited to the State House and will directly participate in the administration of the September 16 tripartite elections. This situation poses a serious threat to the integrity of our electoral process. The DPP says moreover, the current administration seems to foster an environment of corruption, ignoring pressing concerns such as the dilapidation of road infrastructure, the decline in health services, and the economic instability that affects us all. These failings stand as a testament to misplaced priorities, and they demand immediate attention and action. The DPP further reminds President Chakwera that his focus should be on uplifting the lives of Malawians, not engaging in political theater. The electorate deserves transparency, integrity, and real solutions to their daily struggles, not temporary appeasements. Therefore the DPP issued a direct message to Chakwera to stop this bribery and misuse of public resources immediately and the President’s actions are stirring public anger. Misuse of power cannot be hidden behind the shield of state immunity. When 16 September 2025 comes, be prepared to face the consequences of your actions under the law, the Press Release warned. Namalomba said, to those who receive the State House money, we urge you to recognize it for what it is—a token that must not influence your vote. Accept it if you must, but let not its receipt bind your conscience. He urged recipients of the money that the future of our nation and the well-being of our communities hinge on an informed and unwavering decision making process come election day. Further more, the DPP is calling upon the Malawi Electoral Commission and the Registrar of Political Parties to ensure that all electoral laws and the Political Parties Act are fully enforced without bias. Additionally, the DPP urges civil society and international observers to remain vigilant in protecting our democratic institutions and processes. The Press Release emphasized that the manipulated engagements by the current administration are detrimental to democratic integrity, and we must unite to ensure the sanctity and fairness of our electoral process. The DPP remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering democracy, promoting transparency, and improving the lives of all Malawians standing with the people, ready to address the real issues and lead with honesty and purpose.

Smartmatic voting machines and the company itself have been rocked in various challenges and controversies, especially related to the integrity and transparency of elections in the USA, Philippines, Mozambique and other countries around the world. On August 15, 2024, an article carried by Zero Day written by Kim Zetter published and  seen by this paper, indicated that the machine has a long History of Controversy. The U.S. Justice Department charged three Smartmatic executives accused of paying bribes to win lucrative election contracts in the Philippines. For instance, Roger Piñate, a Venezuelan citizen and president and co-founder of Smartmatic, a voting machine vendor founded in Boca Raton, Florida, was charged with two other current and former Smartmatic executives — Jorge Vasquez, a U.S. citizen and the company’s former vice president of hardware development, as well as Elie Moreno, a Venezuelan-Israeli who oversaw Smartmatic’s Philippine contracts. According to U.S. prosecutors, the three conspired to pay at least $1 million in bribes to Juan Andres Bautista, former chair of the Philippine elections commission. The bribes helped the company win contracts worth more than $180 million to supply about 90,000 voting machines and related election services to the Philippines for its 2016 national elections, authorities say.“No voter fraud has been alleged, and Smartmatic is not indicted,” the spokesman said. Many news stories covered the allegations and mentioned the false claims of election rigging against the company made here in the U.S. by supporters of former President Donald Trump over the 2020 presidential election. Smartmatic had filed $2.7 billion defamation lawsuits against Fox News, other right-leaning news organizations and Trump supporters over those claims. Witnesses claimed that votes in the race for vice president changed dramatically after Smartmatic altered the script, and the Philippine Justice Department charged the head of Smartmatic’s technical support team and two subordinates with making an unauthorized change to the script. Already many people are casting doubts about the integrity and transparency of the machines. The Malawi Electoral Commission MEC must know that alleged corruption anywhere undermines public confidence in elections and democracy and a its a recipe for trouble after elections.

Leaders of the National Development Party (NDP) and Solidarity Alliance have called on fellow political leaders in the northern region to unite and work together as the race to the 16 September polls intensifies. Speaking at a joint rally held at Ngomiyawo School Ground in Mzimba, NDP President Tumpale Mwenefumbo emphasized the need for regional unity, urging parties to form alliances within the northern region before seeking partnerships elsewhere. He said such unity would strengthen the region’s voice in developmental decisions, rather than remaining divided as is currently the case. Mwenefumbo added that the rally demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering unity among political parties. He called on others to follow suit to help lift Malawians, particularly those in the northern region, out of economic hardship. In his remarks, Solidarity Alliance President Victor Buchizga Madhlopa accused political parties of using people from the north during elections but sidelining them when it comes to development. He cited the poor road network in the district as a clear example of political neglect.

UTM Party on Sunday started conducting primaries in constituencies where the party has two or more candidates seeking its ticket in the September 16 General Election. Publicity Secretary Felix Njawala said in an interview on Sunday that there are 61 constituencies out of 229 where primaries will be held. He said primaries were set to start in Chitipa, Karonga and in Neno East Constituency on Sunday. “For some constituencies where the party has one candidate, we already conducted an endorsement process,” said Njawala. Other constituencies where the party intends to conduct primaries include Mzuzu City East, Mzimba Central, Mzimba Perekezi, Kasungu Bua Ntchisi South, Lilongwe City Masintha, Ntcheu Central and Zomba Central. The UTM primary elections will end on June 5 2025, five days before the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) opens the nomination process for local government and parliamentary elections. On the other hand, the United Democratic Front (UDF) expects to start conducting primary elections this week following the closure of the period for receiving nominations from aspirants on May 30 2025. The calendar for the September 16 2025 General Elections shows that MEC will receive nomination papers for parliamentary and presidential candidates between July 1 and July 5 2025.

A total of 174 United Democratic Front (UDF) members have defected to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Machinga District. The high-profile defection ceremony took place at Namitoso Primary School, with DPP Eastern Region Governor Hon. Daud Chikwanje welcoming the new members. The defectors, hailing from UDF regional offices, districts, and constituencies, pledged unwavering support for DPP and its presidential candidate, Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika, ahead of the September 16 polls. Chikwanje’s appointment has triggered a significant shift in the region’s political landscape, attracting thousands of members from other parties to join DPP. According to the 2024 AFROBAROMETER Dispatch number 782 published by Eric Otu Bechaam, voting intentions at the time of survey indicates that His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika was leading by 43% while Chakwera of MCP was trailing behind with 29% while other smaller political parties such as UTM was at 7% , UDF got 2%, other parties shared 1% while undecided voters was at 14% for the Presidential Election. The survey was conducted on the premises of economic gloom where very few Malawians hold hope for improvement after five years of poor economic policies under Chakwera’s administration. It is reported that with the current political landscape, many people from other parties will be joining the DPP in large numbers and it is predicted that 50% of voters in the central region will vote for DPP as well.