The UTM Party has announced that it will conduct primary elections across all constituencies and wards from June 1 to June 5, in preparation for the upcoming general elections scheduled for September 16. In a statement released on Thursday and signed by party publicity secretary, Felix Njawala, the party has assured all aspirants that the primary elections will be free, fair, and credible. “The party is committed to upholding democratic values and providing a level playing field for all candidates,” Njawala said. The statement also outlined nomination fees for those seeking to contest in the primaries. Parliamentary candidates will be required to pay K300,000, while youths, women, and candidates from marginalized groups will pay a reduced fee of K150,000. In forward councilor positions, male aspirants will pay K100,000, whereas persons with disabilities will pay K50,000. UTM has urged all constituency governors and relevant party structures to support the electoral process and ensure inclusivity and transparency

President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has landed in Harare, Zimbabwe, in preparation for the 44th SADC Summit, where leaders from the region will gather to deliberate on innovation and sustainable economic development in Southern Africa. Upon his arrival, Dr. Chakwera received a warm welcome from Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Patricia Kainga Nangozo, along with Malawi’s Ambassador Designate General Peter Namathanga, who is retired, and Zimbabwe’s Envoy to Malawi, Nancy Saungweme, as well as other high-ranking officials. The Malawi leader is set to head back home today after the one-day conference.

The 6th Public Affairs Committee Conference which was held in the commercial capital city of Blantyre from the 20th-21st September 2025, has ended with a plea going out to 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. 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 are scort free and enjoy police protection. He also questioned the legality of transferring the suspects from their present location to another distrust or region, saying such a move raises eyebrows. Hon. Katete also took a swipe at the national broadcaster, Malawi broadcasting corporation for being bias towards the government forgetting it’s mandate of serving the public, citing the involvement of the corporation’s director general in propaganda programs aired on television. “This has made the station unpopular among the people and stores anger since such a program promote hate speech and disinformation. The Inspector General of the Malawi Police Service, madam Merylyne Yolamu says 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.  

Former Attorney General Charles Mhango has diplomatically slammed MEC for proposing indicating that counting of elections results will start on the 17th and not the 16th “immediately” after voting as the law provides for . Mhango has cited Section 91 of the Presidential, Parliamentary, Local Government Act of 2023 which does not support MEC s position on that and this may be concluded by opposition and other stakeholders as a ploy by MEC to rig elections. Mhango quotes Section 91: For the avoidance of doubt, Section 91 of the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections Act of 2023 provides that, “Immediately after the close of the poll at any polling station, the presiding officer shall bring all ballot boxes at one place, and, in the presence of polling station officers and representatives of political parties and candidates, if any is present, open the ballots boxes and order the counting of the votes to proceed..” There is no ambiguity about when vote counting will start. What is MEC up to?

The recent statement made by Malawi Army Commander, Paul Valentino Phiri to side with MEC for whatever reason during the forthcoming General elections  is not only worrisome but a new threat that Malawians must be ready to face head on. The nation is aware that Valentino Phiri was appointed to that position in 2023 by Chakwera because he is Chewa by tribe and the intentions are now clear that he has vested interests in protecting this government by all means despite MCP government’s failures and oppressing the people in many aspects. It is also not a coincidence that heads of Malawi Police Service, MEC and the Army are demonstrating lack of professionalism in handling issues of security and elections because they were appointed based on tribal lines. This is a clear sign that Malawi is slowly drifting back to one party dictatorship where the army is usually used to oppress the people and instill fear in the population for political reasons. This is the first time in the history of the nation that such reckless statements are openly made to the public by the army. During the Mutharika era, the army claimed to stand with people when in actual sense they were behind MCP move to topple the previous regime. The Malawi Defense Force MDF is a state military organization responsible for defending Malawi from external threats. Equally the army must be seen to ensure the constitution is upheld. But to announce ahead of time that the army will side with MEC make means they are smelling a dead rat. One has to ask about what has necessitated that statement or declaration. Why should the army make such a statement at a time when many people are very unhappy with the current regime’s performance and the writing is on the wall for all to see. Why should the army make such a statement when people are concerned about the use of Smartmatic machine for voting and vote counting? Why the army should make such a statement when MCP affiliated thugs are going around in broad day light hacking members of the opposition parties and civil servants? The army recently made a joint statement condemning politically sponsored violence and promised to act against culprits if this continues. Since then the army has been dead silent following the attacks of DPP members on 11th May, 2025 at Mponera in Dowa in Central Region. The police acted unprofessionally and failed to assist the victims whose vehicles were also torched in the process. Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of the Diocese of Karonga issued a stain warning to the two entities; Malawi Electoral Commission and the Malawi Defense Force MDF to tread carefully when handling issues of national importance especially the forthcoming elections. The army must know that their primary duty is to protect Malawi, Malawians and the constitution from any threat that may rob them of their rights. Take note that this is the same Commander  who lied and gave conflicting statement with President Chakwera about the plane crash in Chikangawa where the Vice President, Dr Saulos Chilima and 8 others lost their lives in very suspicious circumstances. This was the MDF plane and no one from the army has been held accountable for the crash. The key question is why is the army directly involved in these elections? The Malawi army must know that when the people are fed-up with an oppressive regime, there is nothing they can do to silence the voice of people – Vox populi. MCP, Malawi Army and MEC must know that the will of the people prevails over any tyranny and remember that we are not the army and we don’t take orders from the army as in Bishop Martin Mtumbuka’s own words. If Malawians sit back and observe this unfolding before their eyes, be rest assured that dictatorship is already back in full swing. If MCP is given another term, Malawi will be back to the worst oppressive regime ever experienced where many politicians will go into exile, many will be killed, some will be arrested without trial, freedom of speech will not be granted, freedom of association will be limited and controlled and there will be no opposition parties in Malawi, no civil society, journalists will be arrested and social media you see today will be gone. History will repeats itself. The good news is that the only way we can prevent this and preserve democracy is for all eligible voters to wake up first thing in the morning on 16th September, 2025 to vote for freedom, democracy, rule of law, development, peace and prosperity for all. Say no to dictatorship, say no to suffering, say no to MCP in large numbers where the army will have no power and Mtakataka – Zikwanje shall do nothing to stop the revolution.

Former President of the Republic of Malawi Her Excellency Dr Joyce Banda who is also the leader of People’s Party – PP is gracing an Orange Achievers Youth Conference which is currently taking place at Golden Peacock Hotel in Lilongwe. Dr Chris Daza who has rejoined the party is also in attendance. The main agenda for the meeting is to strengthen and encourage the youth to rally behind the party as we go to the September polls. Dr Joyce Hilda Banda  served as President of Malawi, from 7 April 2012 to 31 May 2014. Banda took office as President following the sudden death of President Bingu wa Mutharika. She is the founder and leader of the People’s Party, created in 2011.

One of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) sympathizers, Joseph Mwandidya has dumped the party with immediate effect. Mwandidya who comes from Nsanje-Lalanje Constituency in Nsanje District told our news desk this morning that he has made the decision after DPP Vice President for South, Joseph Mwanamvekha refused to work with some parliamentary aspirants in Lower Shire valley. “I am no longer a member of DPP with immediate effect and I am now switching my allegiance to the UTM,” disclosed Mwandidya. In the recent past, Mwandidya has been drumming up support for the party ahead of September general election. DPP officials were not immediately available to comment on the development. Meanwhile news reaching our desk suggests that UTM is approaching some aspirant members of parliament that are losing primary elections from other parties to consider standing on UTM ticket because the party has no strong contenders in almost all the constituencies across the country.  

State Vice President Dr. Michael Usi, leader of the Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu party, addressed party committee members around Namisasi area in Mulanje Bale on May 2, 2025. Dr. Usi called for peace and unity, urging Malawians to refrain from political violence during the upcoming September polls. “We are all Malawians under the leadership of President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera,” Dr. Usi emphasized.” “Let’s keep our voter certificates safe and use them to shape our country’s future.” Regarding electoral alliances, Dr. Usi stated that he will publicly disclose his party’s partners in due course, but for now, he is working closely with President Chakwera to ensure Malawi’s continued development.

The Democratic Progressive Party – DPP led by the Former President of the Republic of Malawi and President of the Party, His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika held a press briefing on Thursday, 15th May, 2025 at PAGE House in Mangochi. The press briefing was necessitated by violent attacks of DPP members by suspected thugs affiliated with MCP at Mponera in Dowa District on Sunday, 11th May, 2025 after the DPP vice President Hon. Alfred Gangata successfully conducted political rally in Ntchisi on the fateful day. During the press briefing, the party tackled several issues of national interest such as election concerns and suspicious plans by MEC and MCP to use Smartmatic machine against the will of many Malawians, the unfortunate cancellation of the IMF Extended Credit Facility – ECF, Economic woes, politically sponsored violence perpetuated by suspected MCP thugs especially in the central Region among others. DPP Vice President for the Centre, Hon. Alfred Gangata and Director of Youth Hon. Norman Chisale narrated the ordeal that took place at Mponera in Dowa on the fateful day where they were attacked by suspected MCP thugs on their way to Lilongwe after the rally in Ntchisi. In his opening remarks, Mutharika said that he was deeply concerned with the growing violent acts by thugs affiliated with the Malawi Congress Party MCP against DPP and other opposition party members in the region. The DPP President and Former President of the Republic of Malawi, His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has condemned the on going MCP sponsored violence against members of the DPP in the region despite calls for the President Chakwera to address the issue. “I stand before you with a heavy heart and a sense of outrage to condemn the recent violent attack on our vice president for the Centre Hon. Alfred Gangata and other senior party members by thugs affiliated to the Malawi Congress Party – MCP. This attack which was carried on May 11th , 2025 is defies the principles of democracy and peace that we hold dear”. He said. Mutharika further condemned the use of stones and guns and burning of Quantum Bus leaving several DPP members seriously injured as the sad reminder of the MCP disregard of human rights and democratic principles. On the panel was the Secretary General of the party, Hon. Peter Mukhito who spoke of elections anomalies that have been registered with Smartmatic right from the registration period. DPP Vice President for the South, Hon. Joseph Mwanamvekha, MP tackled the issue of economic woes rocking the country right now due to failure by government to observe fiscal discipline and meet IMF requirement for the ECF. Hon. DPP Vice President for Central Region Hon. Alfred Gangata, Hon. Norman Chisale addressed the issue of violence by the MCP suspected thugs while Hon. Dr Jean Mathanga DPP Director of Elections spoke on the need to have a free, fair and transparent election process which is not the case with MEC and MCP government, and other DPP officials who echoed what the President said, condemning undemocratic tendencies by the MCP government. Mutharika has since appealed to all Malawians of good will to stand up against MCP tyranny and that Malawians deserve a better government that will serve the people and not the interest of the few, the government that will upholds the rule of law and the government that protects the people. He further asked the Peace Commission, Faith Community, civil Society organizations and Activists not to remain quite in the face of evil perpetuated by the MCP and Malawi Electoral Commission MEC under their watch.