Trouble in the newly signed alliance involving the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), United Democratic Front (UDF) and Alliance for Democracy (Aford).
Some of the senior members in the DPP and UDF are threatening to dump their respective parties following revelation that Arthur Peter Mutharika has reportedly settled for Aford’s Enoch Kamzingeni Chihana as his running mate ahead of the September 16 high-stakes elections.
The development has exposed the greed and selfishness on the part of APM and his loyalists coupled with dementia and deluged mind of an old man.
The announcement, though yet to be officially confirmed, has also shaken the DPP, Aford, and UDF tripartite pact, hailed at its inception as a united front to unseat the Malawi Congress Party (MCP). The alliance was already strained under the weight of ambition, suspicion, and strategic imbalance and the new development looks set to leave UDF’s Atupele Muluzi in the cold bringing further cracks to the agreement.
At first glance, the move to have Chihana as the running mate seems intended to bring spirit of inclusivity within the alliance but insiders from both the DPP and UDF camps see a deeper and more dangerous political undercurrent.
Already big guns like Bright Msaka, George Chaponda, Joseph Mwanamvekha, and Jappie Mhango have openly showed their anger with sources revealing that plans are underway for the four to call for a press briefing to finally publicly express their disdain.
“The choice of running mate isn’t just about regional or party balancing, or to massage the egos of the alliance partners,” a senior DPP official confided under condition of anonymity. “Considering APM’s old age and ill health, to us in the DPP this is about succession. And the choice of Chihana has raised red flags.”
With Mutharika now 85 and reportedly facing intermittent health challenges, the realpolitik behind selecting a running mate becomes even more significant.
“Should anything happen to the President, God forbid,” the official added, “we’ll have a scenario where Aford—arguably the smallest partner in the alliance and the most irrelevant party nationally—assuming national leadership. That could leave the DPP sidelined in a government it built.”
The choice has also unsettled the UDF, the other major partner in the alliance. Believing in itself as having a deeper grassroots presence and historic political capital, the UDF had quietly positioned itself as the natural contender for the vice presidency slot.
“We believe our structures, our following, and our leadership credentials position us more favorably than Aford,” said a senior UDF strategist. “Our party has always been a national force. Chihana’s selection is not only unexpected—it’s strategically flawed.”
Analysts believe this internal friction could weaken the alliance’s cohesion heading into a tightly contested election.
Enoch Chihana, still riding on his late dad Chakufwa Chihana’s fame, unsuccessfully though—has tried hard to remain relevant on the local political scene but his efforts has yielded nothing with his popularity dipping even in the north where Aford once held a stronghold. His leadership, riddled with scandals, has been described as chaotic as he has failed to hold the party together and preserve its ideological brand.
“Enoch has been a hopeless leader who at his age still thinks he can ride on his dad to gain political millage. Just like his colleague Muluzi, this has failed massively. Muluzi also has been trying the same tactics of riding on his father, former President Bakili Muluzi,” says one Mzuzu based political commentator.
One political analyst questions the political calculus behind the choice of Chihana.
“The move might please a few technocrats, but elections are won on numbers and networks,” he argues, “Aford does not bring numbers. This could be a gamble disguised as strategy.”
An alliance agreement believed to have been signed over last weekend, clearly granted Mutharika the power to name his running mate, but that clause—now exercised—has become a fault line.
Critics within the UDF camp argue that the deal was never meant to cede so much leverage to one party.
“The alliance started as a united front. It’s now looking like a one-party state in the making. By choosing Chihana, it is clear that the DPP is planning something sinister knowing that if anything happens, he will be easily pushed aside,” remarks a UDF youth leader in the south.
