The collapse of the DPP-UTM electoral alliance talks 3 weeks ago has sparked debate and continue to widen the gap between the two parties amidst finger pointing as to who is responsible for lack of progress in the negotiations. Speaking to journalists at her Nkando resistance in Mulanje on Wednesday 20 August, 2025, Hon Patricia Kaliati hit back at DPP national director of women Hon Mary Navicha for lying to the nation that Kaliati was to blame for futile talks aimed at forming an alliance ahead of the September 16 elections. Kaliati wondered how a mere advisor could prevent her party and the president from reaching a consensus with erstwhile DPP. Both DPP and UTM supporters view such alliance as a viable option to remove a failed and corrupt regime from power. ‘my role has limit, being an advisor, I did not participate in the talks, therefore it is inconceivable to be blamed or accused of misleading utm leader ” said Kaliati. Hon Patricia Kaliati did not mince her words and was quick to put the blame squarely on DPP’s door. This public spat between Hon Kaliati and Hon Mary Navicha was ignited by the latter’s speech a week ago at a rally she addressed in Phalombe where she claimed that Kaliati failed to advise properly UTM President Dalitso Kabambe on alliance negotiations. According to an audio clip from that rally which has gone viral , Navicha could be heard accusing Kaliati of misleading Kabambe resulting in failure to sign electoral alliance agreement. She said that Kaliati favours her party’s alliance with the ruling party, an allegation which she (Kaliati) vehemently denied. Ironically, Hon Patricia Kaliati served as DPP national director of women which Hon Mary Navicha currently occupies and both served as gender minister when DPP was in power.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) President Peter Mutharika has justified his recent absence from the campaign scene, saying he was busy setting up a team and measures to deploy once the party returns to government. Mutharika was reacting to critics who have been questioning his absence from the campaign trail as his running mate, Jane Ansah and Enoch Kamzingeni Chihana have been at the forefront, drumming up support for the erstwhile ruling party. But writing on his official Facebook Page, Mutharika said the strategic plans he has been working on are now into fruition and he is ready to hit the ground running. “As we embark on this historic mission, do join us. Come, as the people of Lilongwe and Ntcheu have done today, to our stopovers and rallies. Tell others about the message of hope of the Democratic Progressive Party – DPP. “Most importantly, on 16 September cast a vote for the only leadership that this far has proven to lower inflation, uphold the rules of law and make necessities such as fuel, forex and passports available,” Mutharika said. The former president is set to hold rallies in the northern region on Friday, starting with Jenda Trading Centre in Mzimba and then Mzuzu Roundabout before holding a joint rally on Sunday with AFORD President Enoch Chihana at Katoto Freedom Park which also promises to be fireworks.

At Ntowe Trading Centre in T/A Ndamera, just a short distance from the Maraca border with Mozambique and Nsanje Boma, Vice President of Malawi and President of Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu, Dr. Michael Usi, laid out a bold vision for the Lower Shire. He told the people that hunger, floods, and lack of clean water will no longer define Nsanje under an Odya Zake government. To deal with floods, he promised the introduction of early warning systems and relocation of families from flood-prone zones to safer highlands, saying disaster management must be permanent and practical. On hunger, Dr. Usi urged communities to move beyond maize dependency and diversify into crops like potatoes and other high-value produce. He pledged affordable inputs, irrigation, and farmer support clubs to guarantee food security and sustainable incomes. Water, he said, is life, and Odya Zake will invest in boreholes, gravity-fed systems, and small dams so that every household has access to clean, safe water. Above all, Dr. Usi put the youth at the centre of change. He promised soft loans for enterprise and innovation, declaring that young people must not be reduced to tools of politicians but be empowered to shape the country’s destiny. “Odya Zake will not be built on tribe or party loyalty,” he declared, “but on skills, integrity and the will of Malawians themselves.”

DPP Vice President for the South, Hon. Joseph Mwanamveka, met with 50 chiefs from Thumbwe Constituency in Chiradzulu on August 20, 2025, to rally support for Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika’s presidential bid. Mwanamveka urged the chiefs to back DPP and APM’s economic plans, emphasizing APM’s ability to revive the economy. One Group Village Headman expressed gratitude for Mwanamveka’s development projects, including school blocks, boreholes, and roads, and pledged total support for APM. The chiefs cited the need for APM’s return to address economic challenges attributed to the MCP-led government. Mwanamveka’s campaign efforts in the southern region continue to gain momentum ahead of the September 16 polls.

Member of Parliament for Mulanje Bale, Hon. Victor Musowa, expressed confidence on Sunday, August 17, 2025, that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will win the September 16 elections with landslide. Speaking at a political rally in Mulanje Bale, Musowa attributed the country’s high cost of living to the poor leadership of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) government. Musowa also highlighted several developmental projects slated for the area if he retains his parliamentary seat. “I aim to develop this area by introducing more projects,” he said. He emphasized that only the DPP, under Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika’s leadership, can stabilize the economy, which has been crippled by the MCP government. Known for advocating for the poor in Parliament, Musowa urged his constituents to support the DPP.

Mwanamvekha said that when Chakwera took presidential office in 2020, he found things at very low prices, for example; sugar was at 550 kwacha, now it has reached 4500 kwacha and is even scarce, soap was at 50 kwacha, now it’s at 1000 kwacha, fertilizer was at 18,000 kwacha, now it’s at 155,000 kwacha, fuel was at 700 kwacha per liter, now it’s at 2730 kwacha, foreign currency was available, now it’s scarce, to mention just a few things. This is proof that Chakwera has ruined the economy of this country. But don’t worry because Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika is coming back to fix the economy of this country as he did by reducing inflation which was at 36% as of February 2013 to 9% in 2019 , resulting in the massive decline of goods and services prices, economic growth and prosperity of our nation. What you need to do is to vote on 16th September for President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, Blue Alliance shadow MPs, and shadow Councilors to rescue Malawi from the current consuming fire.

UTM President Dr Dalitso Kabambe has vowed that once he gets into government, the first task of his leadership is to realign the country’s monetary and fiscal policies that are currently in a disarray. In his remarks during the launch in Lilongwe, Kabambe praised the vision of the founder of the late Dr Saulosi Klaus Chilima, said under his administration, he will assemble a cabinet of 16 professionals, appoint an ACB Director who is accountable to the people of Malawi. “Today, is a day when we remember the good job of our late leader Dr Saulosi Klaus Chilima who perished in the plane in Chikangawa Forest. It was a dark day in the history of this country. We are also blessed here by our mother, Mary Chilima who has been with us giving us advice when we reach out. Thank you for accepting our invitation,” said Kabambe. Several high ranking members of the party attended the function including Mary Chilima, spouse to the late Dr Saulos Chilima who was the  founder and leader of UTM before he mysteriously perished in a plane crash in Chikangawa Forest.

President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has promised the people of Chiweta in Rumphi that he will connect Chiweta and Mlowe to the Lakeshore road in order to facilitate tourism and development. The President was speaking at a whistle stop at Chiweta today, enroute to Mzuzu after a three day stay in Karonga and Chitipa. He said the M1 road has been neglected for a long time despite its economic value to the country and that he was ready to address this. He therefore, asked people to vote for him in order to realize this and more. “A great amount of our imports pass through this road and the government collects a lot of revenue from it. Let me assure you that we are going to complete the Kacheche-Chiweta phase and proceed all the way to the border because we are doing it in phases,” The president disclosed that designs for Mpamba to Usisya Road have already been approved and that construction will start soon. Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Secretary General, Richard Chimwendo Banda said by choosing Minister of Trade, Vitumbiko Mumba as his running mate, the President has demonstrated that he has trust in the leadership abilities of the people of the northern region. He therefore, asked people of Rumphi East Constituency to vote for Chakwera and an MCP aspirant, Alfred Nyasulu on September 16 for better utilization of the constituency development Fund. Senior Chief Mwalweni has praised the president for rehabilitating M1 road and elevating his chiefs. He, however, asked the president to support some households whose crops were washed away by floods with food. One of the locals who requested for anonymity, has cast his doubts if what the President has said will materialize because he has failed the people of the North in the last five years. “Chakwera is saying all this because he is seeking second term in office and this is another blatant lie which is not going to work this time around because people are disappointed with MCP government because of  poor  performance.” He complained.

Verbal war has erupted between state vice president Rt Hon Michael Usi and the governing Malawi Congress Party over his recent accusations that corruption is rife and chocking development. On Sunday 10 August, 2025, during his whistle stop tour which he conducted on his way from Lilongwe to Blantyre, the 2nd in command surprised many when he claimed that there are more corrupt cabinet ministers and civil servants especially those around the president who also demand kickbacks from potential investors at the expense of national development. The following day on Monday at a rally he addressed at Nyambadwe ground in the sprawling township of Ndirande in Blantyre, Usi repeated the claim he made earlier at Nsipe in Ntcheu that corruption in government is rife. Reacting to Dr Usi’s allegation, MCP spokesperson Dr Jessie Kabwila said the vice president should be grateful to president Chakwera and the party for appointing him vice president after Chilima’s demise as a way of respecting the electoral alliance pact he had with the late UTM leader Saulos Chilima. Kabwila wondered why Dr Usi all along, kept praising the same government he is criticizing now yet he is part of the cabinet. She has since asked Dr Usi to resign and explain to the nation the source of his campaign funding. But when speeking on Tuesday August 13 in Mangochi, Usi maintained his claim and said he is ready to bring evidence in court to prove his allegations. He said no one should gag him and has vowed to continue exposing corruption in government. Campaign for the September 16, 2025 is in full swing and 17 candidates are expected to contest for the presidency in a country of over 22 million people and 7 million registered voters.

Soon after being announced as DPP president Arthur Peter Mutharika’s, running mate for the September 16 presidential election, Justice Dr Jane Ansah waste no time in the mammoth task of hunting for the party’s votes to secure DPP’s ballot victory. After conducting campaign rally in Mwanza earlier this week, Madam Jane Ansah stormed the Lower Shire district of Nsanje where she conducted whistle stop tour alongside other DPP leaders among them, vice president for the southern region, Hon Joseph Mwanamvekha. Dr Ansah has urged Malawians to vote for DPP candidate Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika who is prepared and well mature to rescue the country which has suffered 5 years of catastrophic economic decay under Chakwera’s rule. Wherever she goes, tens of thousands of people gather to listen to the message which gives them hope for a better future with DPP. On Thursday, the party will storm Chikwawa district where Hon Jane Ansah and other party leaders will unpack DPP people centered manifesto.

On Wednesday, August 13, 2025, Hon. Noel Lipipa, Member of Parliament for Blantyre Kabula Chilomoni Nancholi constituency, visited the Blantyre Main Market to engage with vendors and understand their challenges. The vendors expressed frustration with the economic difficulties caused by the MCP-led government, citing rising prices and dwindling businesses. In response, Hon. Lipipa assured the vendors that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is committed to reviving the economy if they vote for Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika on September 16. “APM is ready to revamp the economy and ensure everyone’s happiness, so let’s rally behind him,said Lipipa” Meanwhile, Councilors for the area Richard Kamwendo and Tendayi Gunde accompanied Hon Lipipa.

Dr Jane Ansah SC, on Thursday, July 30, 2025, got the blessings of Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani V at Nkolimbo headquarters in Ntcheu district after she was named the running mate by Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika. Speaking after visiting the traditional leader, Ansah said the institution of traditional leadership is rooted in the understanding that these leaders are valuable assets in promoting development, maintaining social order and preserving cultural heritage. “From September 16, our administration that will be led by Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika and other alliance partners, AFORD whose leader is Enoch Chihana is committed to working with traditional leaders with an aim of achieving rural development. It is key to develop our rural areas to respond to urban migration by giving them basic needs such as clean water, good road infrastructure, affordable prices of fertilizer, contain the runway inflation which has ripple effect on the lives of every citizen among others. The incompetence in the coming administration as seen today won’t be there. This will be about business for the poor people and not the rich, where shared prosperity, true freedom and meaningful equality strive,”, said Jane Ansah the former Justice of Appeal. She added that as a country we must be proud of the journey we have travelled according to the institution of traditional leadership and the stature it deserves.