Above, former Malawi President Peter Mutharika, left, with UDF’s Atupele Muluzi at Page House recently.

As Malawi approaches the 2025 elections next week, fresh revelations about from former President Peter Mutharika’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) suggest an internal power struggle for political control, writes MakanDay’s Special Correspondent in Lilongwe.

Former Malawian President Arthur Peter Mutharika (known locally as “APM”) never originally intended to contest the 2025 presidential election, sources within Mutharika’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have disclosed.

Exposing deep-seated political machinations within Malawi’s opposition landscape,

Insiders in the DPP hierarchy have disclosed that Mutharika was initially prepared to throw his full support behind United Democratic Front (UDF) President Atupele Muluzi’s presidential ambitions.

The revelation comes as Malawi approaches the September 2025 general elections, with Mutharika now having selected controversial former Electoral Commission Chairperson Jane Ansah as his Running Mate.

The dramatic shift in Mutharika’s political trajectory, sources reveal, stems from internal party power struggles that ultimately sabotaged what could have been a formidable opposition alliance.

Meetings at Page House

Multiple DPP sources confirm that Mutharika and Muluzi met at least twice at Page House, Mutharika’s residence in Mangochi, to discuss the former president’s intention to strategically place Muluzi as his successor.

These high-level discussions, conducted away from the prying eyes of party officials, centered on Mutharika’s belief that Muluzi represented the future of Malawian politics and possessed the experience and integrity necessary to lead the country

Proven Partnership and Trust

The foundation of Mutharika’s confidence in Muluzi stems from their successful working relationship during the DPP’s previous tenure in government. Muluzi served as a Minister in Mutharika’s administration, demonstrating both competence and loyalty during challenging political times.

This professional partnership fostered a level of trust that Mutharika rarely extended to other political figures. Sources indicate that Mutharika viewed Muluzi not just as a capable administrator, but as someone who understood the complexities of governance and the weight of presidential responsibility.

Age and Health Concerns

At 84, Mutharika privately acknowledged that his advancing age and health concerns would pose significant challenges to effective governance. Unlike his public persona of strength and determination, sources reveal that behind closed doors, Mutharika expressed doubts about his ability to serve another full presidential term.

“APM was very candid about his limitations,” revealed a senior DPP official who requested anonymity. “He felt that the country needed younger, more energetic leadership, and he saw that in Atupele.”

Public Endorsement and Respect

Mutharika’s respect for Muluzi was not merely private sentiment. In a 2019 article published by Nyasa Times, Mutharika publicly justified his consideration of Muluzi, stating that “he understands running government comes with responsibility.” This public endorsement reflected Mutharika’s genuine belief in Muluzi’s capabilities and character.

The former President’s assessment of Muluzi was based on concrete observations of his ministerial performance and his approach to political responsibility, traits that Mutharika felt were essential for presidential leadership.

A Debt of Political Honor

Perhaps most significantly, Mutharika felt he “owed it” to Muluzi after the 2019 election controversy. Sources reveal that Mutharika harbored regret over his decision not to select Muluzi as his running mate in 2019, instead choosing the less popular Everton Chimulirenji.

This decision, which many political analysts viewed as a strategic error, weighed heavily on Mutharika’s conscience. The former President saw supporting Muluzi’s presidential bid as both political wisdom and personal redemption.

 

DPP wrangles and the failed Zisinthe Alliance

The original plan involved the formation of the “Zisinthe Alliance,” a powerful opposition coalition comprising the DPP, UDF, and the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD). This alliance was designed to present a united front against the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and provide Malawi with a credible alternative government.

While Mutharika himself favored Muluzi as the alliance’s running mate, senior DPP officials harbored different ambitions. They were not prepared to accept Muluzi as a running mate and fundamentally opposed the idea of him eventually succeeding Mutharika as alliance leader.

Internal Sabotage and Power Preservation

A calculated strategy by DPP party hardliners to maintain control while exploiting Muluzi’s political energy and youth appeal saw Muluzi’s campaigning abilities and public appeal as a useful tool, while ensuring that real power remained within the DPP establishment.

“They wanted to use Atupele’s youthful energy and clean reputation to win elections, but they had no intention of allowing him to truly lead,” explained a source familiar with the internal party dynamics. “It was about maintaining control while appearing to embrace change.”

The Leak That Killed the Alliance

In a move that sources describe as deliberately destructive, DPP officials leaked the alliance agreement to the media and rival political parties. This calculated sabotage was designed to create mistrust and confusion among alliance partners.

Mutharika, who had delegated much of the alliance negotiations to his party officials due to his inability to participate in all deliberations, was reportedly blindsided by this internal betrayal. The leaks effectively poisoned the well of inter-party cooperation and made meaningful collaboration impossible.

Fabricated Propaganda Against Muluzi

To further discredit Muluzi and justify the alliance’s collapse, DPP officials spread false information claiming that Muluzi had secretly formed an alliance with the incumbent MCP. This propaganda campaign was designed to portray Muluzi as untrustworthy and politically opportunistic. The fabricated narrative served one main purpose: to consolidate DPP’s hierarchy’s power.

Jane Ansah – The Architect of Electoral Controversy

The selection of Jane Ansah as Mutharika’s running mate represents perhaps the most controversial aspect of the DPP’s 2025 campaign strategy. Ansah was the Chairperson of the

Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) during the 2019 general election, which was subsequently annulled by the Constitutional Court due to widespread irregularities.

The Constitutional Court’s ruling specifically ordered an audit of the electoral process and questioned the suitability of MEC commissioners to remain in office. Ansah’s tenure was marked by nationwide protests calling for her resignation over her handling of the disputed election.

The Succession Concern

Given Mutharika’s advanced age, the choice of running mate takes on added significance as it effectively identifies his potential successor. The selection of Ansah, given her controversial background and the circumstances surrounding the 2019 election annulment, raises serious questions about judgment and political wisdom.

Critics argue that Ansah’s association with the “Tippex Election” – a reference to the widespread use of correction fluid on ballot papers that contributed to the election’s annulment – makes her a liability rather than an asset to the DPP ticket.

A Questionable Political Legacy

The 2019 election controversy that Ansah oversaw was characterized by what the Constitutional Court termed “widespread incompetence” and “gross negligence.” The court ultimately annulled the presidential vote and ordered a re-run after opposition parties successfully challenged the results citing irregularities.

For a party seeking to rebuild trust with the Malawian electorate, the selection of a figure so closely associated with electoral malfeasance appears counterproductive and potentially damaging to the DPP’s credibility.

Muluzi – The Clean Politician Malawi Needs?

Despite the internal DPP sabotage and propaganda campaigns, Muluzi is seen as a significant figure in Malawian politics. He has marketed himself as part of a new generation of political leadership with a clean record and genuine commitment to public service.

This, observers say, is the very reason DPP hardliners campaigned to exclude Muluzi from real power – his clean political record and appeal to younger voters. He is seen as representing a break from the old patterns of political behaviour that have characterized much of Malawi’s post-independence experience.

Mutharika has himself publicly acknowledged Muluzi’s potential.

The Road Not Taken

As Malawi approaches the 2025 elections next week, the revelations about Mutharika’s original intentions and the internal DPP power struggles that derailed them provide insight into what might have been. The Zisinthe Alliance, had it materialized, could have presented a formidable challenge to the incumbent MCP government.

Instead, Malawian voters are left with a fragmented opposition, a controversial running mate selection, and questions about what the future holds for the country’s democratic development.