The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Sunday launched its September elections campaign at Njamba Freedom Park in Blantyre, but the event was overshadowed by concerns over the health and physical fitness of its presidential candidate, former President Arthur Peter Mutharika.
In an unusual development, Mutharika addressed the crowd from an open-roof vehicle, after failing to disembark and walk to the main podium where other party officials were seated. The move has sparked questions about the 86-year-old candidate’s physical condition.
Despite the campaign launch being a key moment in the DPP’s electoral calendar, Mutharika was also notably absent from the party’s manifesto launch earlier in the day at Sunbird Mount Soche Hotel.
His running mate Jane Ansah presided over the indoor event before heading to Njamba Park for the public rally.
At Njamba Park, Mutharika arrived after the rest of the team had taken their seats on the podium. He remained in the vehicle throughout the rally and made a brief address to the crowd. His speech focused on promising to rebuild the economy and restore governance if elected.
The DPP has not officially commented on why Mutharika did not join others on stage or why he skipped the earlier manifesto launch, though sources close to the party cite fatigue and health-related limitations.
Observers and some party supporters at the venue expressed concern, with some questioning whether the former president was fit enough to sustain the rigors of a national campaign with only six weeks to go before the September 16 elections.
Some senior members of the DPP have also expressed frustration and dismay over the party’s decision to parade Mutharika at Njamba Freedom Park in what they now describe as a “strategic disaster.”
Insiders who spoke on condition of anonymity said the event, initially planned as a moment of strength and unity, ended up confirming the worst fears many had been suppressing that Mutharika is physically and possibly mentally unfit to lead a national campaign.
“There was no need to force him onto that vehicle. We could have easily delayed this rally or had another senior member deliver the keynote. What happened was not just a bad image, it’s embarrassing and demoralizing the base,” said one senior party member.
Others blamed a tight circle around Mutharika described by some as a “kitchen cabinet of enablers” for pushing the appearance despite warnings from those who have worked closely with the former president in recent months.
“There’s a lot of fear around suggesting alternatives to Mutharika. Some people have built their political futures on keeping him as the candidate, even if the entire party burns,” another insider admitted.
Mutharika, who served as Malawi’s President from 2014 to 2020, is making a second attempt at returning to office after losing to President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera in the 2020 court-sanctioned election.
The DPP has faced mounting criticism in recent weeks over its choice of candidate, with internal divisions and public scrutiny intensifying over Mutharika’s advanced age and visible frailty.
As the campaign period formally begins, all eyes are on how the DPP navigates the growing perception challenges surrounding its presidential flagbearer.
Meanwhile, discontent is simmering at the grassroots level. WhatsApp groups and Facebook pages have exploded with questions, jokes, and open criticism, a worrying sign that support is cracking under the weight of reality.
