The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has launched an elaborate scheme to illegally transport voters to polling centres in what is seen as a desperate bid to secure near-total voter turnout in its strongholds on polling day.
Leaked details from party operatives reveal that the plan, spearheaded by senior figures close to former president Arthur Peter Mutharika, involves using a fleet of unregistered and black-number vehicles, including Toyota Sientas and other small cars, to ferry people to voting stations in Thyolo, Mulanje, Zomba, and Chiradzulu.
According to information obtained by this newspaper, the target is to achieve a 95% turnout in these districts, far above the national average.
Lawyer and DPP operative Felix Tambulansi is reported to be overseeing vehicle identification and deployment, while supervisors at polling centres have been provided with full voter lists.
The tactic, insiders say, is chillingly organized. By 1:00 PM on polling day, monitors will flag voters who have not yet cast their ballot. Village heads, who have already been roped into the plan, will then be urgently alerted to ensure those individuals are picked up and driven to the polls.
“The plan is to have 95% having voted by 3:00 PM,” said the source.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) found itself on shaky ground during this year’s voter registration exercise, as a significant portion of eligible voters in its supposed strongholds failed to register. This disappointing turnout was mainly because of the party’s sustained public campaign accusing the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) of partiality and casting doubt on the integrity of the electoral process.
Out of the grand total of 7,159,217 registered voters, the south registered almost 3 million while the central region registered more than half of the total and the northern region has slightly more than 898,000.
Analysts suggest that despite being the smallest contributor to the national voter total, the Northern Region remains critical in shaping electoral outcomes, especially in closely contested areas while central region remains a decisive electoral battleground.
Despite the Southern Region closely trailing the Central Region and remains a political stronghold for key parties, the DPP find itself in a fix as the region has more than 5 presidential candidates while central region only has one, MCP’s Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera.
“This transportation of voters is a last minute desperate strategy to at least ensure that the party has the numbers but it is something that would not work. More over transportation of voters is against the electoral laws,” said one political commentator.
The financier, another key DPP operative Gift Dulla, is reportedly “not sleeping” as he financially coordinates the operation.
Sources say he has already secured K85 million to cover food and fuel for drivers.
In the elaborate plan, 17 of the drivers will be accommodated at Kingsley Namankhwa’s Lodge in Chisitu while others will be lodged at Nalipiri Lodge which belongs to DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba.
Similar plans are being made for Chikwawa where party operatives were expected to meet on Thursday.
This voter ferrying plan forms part of a broader pattern in which the DPP is seeking to win the September elections without traditional campaigning. Since the official start of the campaign period, Mutharika has remained grounded at his Page House residence in Mangochi, making no public appearances and avoiding rallies.
Electoral Commission regulations clearly prohibit political parties from transporting voters to polling centres as it creates unfair advantage and opens the door to coercion and vote buying.
Legal experts warn that if proven, this operation could result in serious penalties, including disqualification of candidates and criminal prosecution.
“This is a blatant attempt to manipulate voter turnout through illegal means. The scale and coordination described here suggest premeditated electoral malpractice,” said one election law specialist who asked not to be named.
The revelations raise urgent questions for MEC and the Malawi Police Service, especially given growing concerns about the impartiality of law enforcement in electoral matters.
With millions of Malawians set to vote in a few weeks, the public will be watching closely to see if election authorities act on these reports or allow the DPP to proceed with a high-risk strategy that could distort the will of the people.
MEC is yet to comment on the revelations while Namalomba declined to say anything when contacted.
