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Malawian good governance experts have described the just concluded opposition Democratic Progressive Party congress as a lost opportunity.
The Democratic Progressive Party held its electoral conference at Comesa Hall in Blantyre from Saturday to Monday. During the conference, delegates voted for their preferred leader, but the post of chairman was unopposed and ultimately went to party leader Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika.
However, Undule Mwakasungula, a Malawi government governance commentator, believes the convention has left many Malawians disappointed and concerned.
Mwakasungula, a governance and human rights advocate, believes that the congress, which was expected to revive the party and become an alternative government to the current one, has instead exposed a number of missed opportunities for the party, raising many questions rather than answers about the party’s ability to lead the country again.
“One of the most noteworthy issues of this congress is the marginalization of women and youth in top party leadership positions. In a country where women and youth constitute a large portion of the population, the DPP’s decision to exclude these key groups from influential positions is not only a strategic blunder but also a disregard for inclusive leadership. The absence of women and youth in the nine top positions of the Central Executive Committee is a step backward in the fight for gender equality and youth empowerment. This exclusion is likely to increase the frustration of these groups, potentially leading to further disenchantment with the party leadership,” he said.
He reminded the DPP that there was no secret or controversy about the party’s responsibility for the economic difficulties currently faced by the people of Malawians, arguing that the party’s previous government had been accused of economic mismanagement, including the manipulation of financial data to deceive international institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“The long-term effects of these practices are still lingering today, with Malawians struggling under the weight of a devastated economy that the current government is now struggling to repair. The DPP’s attempt to position itself as the economic saviour is deeply ironic and hypocritical, given that the DPP played a major role in creating the very problems it now claims to want to solve. It is therefore highly hypocritical for the DPP to criticise the state of the economy, given that it is largely responsible for the economic challenges the country is currently facing,” said Mwakasongula.
He further pointed out that this conference still lacked real self-reflection and change.
He said the people of Malawians voted out the PDP because of widespread dissatisfaction with the party’s governance, which was characterised by corruption, lack of accountability and failure to meet the needs of the people.
“Yet the party’s leadership seems to believe that simply declaring that they have ‘changed’ will be enough to win back the support of Malawians. This underestimates the memory of Malawians, who know very well why they voted for the DPP in the first place. Without concrete evidence of change, such as new faces in leadership, clear policy shifts and a genuine commitment to reform, the DPP’s assertions lack credibility,” said Mwakasungula.
He continued: “Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika’s performance at the conference has further fuelled concerns about his ability to lead the party and the country into the 2025 general elections. His opening speech was marked by fatigue and hesitation, which cast doubt on his ability to withstand the rigours of a national campaign. His decision to delegate his closing speech to the conference chairperson, rather than addressing delegates himself, only reinforces the perception that he may no longer have the energy or drive to lead effectively. It has also fuelled speculation that his candidacy is not driven by personal conviction, but rather pressure from within the party.
“For the sake of his legacy and the future of his party, Prof. Mutharika might be wise to reconsider his decision to contest the forthcoming elections. As a former head of state, he has the opportunity to step down gracefully and allow a new leader to emerge, thereby preserving his legacy as a statesman. However, the final decision is his and the consequences of that decision will undoubtedly shape the fate of the DPP for years to come. Frankly speaking, the DPP’s convention lost an opportunity to demonstrate that the party has learned from its past mistakes and is ready to offer a credible alternative to the people of Malawians. Instead, it left many with the impression that the party is stuck in the past and that its leadership is out of touch with the needs and aspirations of the Malawian people. If the DPP continues on this path, it will find it difficult to regain the trust and support of the Malawian people as the 2025 elections approach.”
Meanwhile, Mutharika failed to attend the closing ceremony of the PDP congress in Blantyre this morning.
There are concerns that Mutharika, 84, is too old to run an aggressive and rigorous campaign for the 2025 presidential election.
The conference president, Dr George Chaponda, 83, read out Mutharika’s closing address at the conference.
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