The meeting has raised concerns with Malawians being reminded of the panga wielding cadets who terrorized the nation ahead of the 2019 and 2020 elections.
Former President and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate, Arthur Peter Mutharika, this week held a private strategic meeting with senior party officials, including the controversial political warlord Mike Ben Chitenje, sending fears to Malawians that the old man may be gearing up for a disruptive approach in the run-up to the September General Elections.
The meeting held at his Page House residence in Mangochi just days after an awkward encounter with the Public Affairs Committee (PAC), has raised concerns about the Mutharika’s campaign intentions with a lot of Malawians being reminded of the panga wielding cadets who terrorized the nation ahead of the 2019 and 2020 elections.
Mike Ben Chitenje, popularly known in political circles as Bangwe 1 and as one of the most ruthless and militant DPP cadets, was notably at the centre of violent and intimidating mobilizations during those elections. His presence and Mutharika’s open praise during the Mangochi meeting have sparked worry among political observers, civil society, and electoral stakeholders.
“I’m happy with what you’re doing, Mike. Continue this good work,” Mutharika reportedly said during the meeting. It was not clear what Mutharika was referring to in his praises of the man, however, this endorsement has been interpreted by many as a disturbing nod to Chitenje’s well-documented history of political violence and youth mobilization for intimidation purposes.
Mike Ben Chitenje rose to notoriety as a leading figure in the DPP’s youth wing, often leading groups of cadets who were accused of harassing political opponents, journalists, and dissenters during the 2019 tripartite elections and the controversial 2020 presidential election re-run.
While Mutharika’s administration publicly distanced itself from violence, critics argue that the violent behaviour of cadets was not only tolerated but quietly encouraged to maintain control through fear.
In 2020, Chitenje famously led a protest march to Sanjika Palace demanding the dismissal of Norman Chisale, then-President Mutharika’s trusted aide. The internal party power struggle was cloaked in calls for accountability but was later revealed to have been driven by demands for access to public resources, including loans from the Malawi Rural Development Fund (MARDEF) and government contracts.
“The group wanted Chisale to force MARDEF to release millions to them and provide lucrative government tenders. It was never about justice—it was about corruption and self-enrichment,” said one former DPP insider who declined to be named.
Interestingly, it seems recently there has been a secret pact of Mike Ben Chitenje now working closely with Chisale.
The meeting at Page House has been described by DPP insiders as a strategic planning session focusing on electoral mobilization, campaign resource deployment, and addressing concerns about the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).
Recently, it was revealed that the DPP and other political parties are planning to force MEC to give them access to its data base or failing which to distrupt the electoral process and ensure that elections are not held. This is in fear of the already clear outcome that the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and the incumbent President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera would win the elections.
Also in attendance was senior party member Mrs. Joyce Mukhuna Banda.
The presence of Mike Ben Chitenje and the tone of the meeting have led to widespread concern about what direction the DPP is planning to take.
One political analyst said the re-emergence of Mike Ben Chitenje in Mutharika’s inner circle should alarm every democracy-loving Malawian.
“This is not a coincidence. It reflects a tactical pivot by the DPP—one that hints at muscle politics, not policy. If Mutharika is banking on cadet-style mobilization, then we are looking at a campaign season full of violence, intimidation and disruptions,” he said.
Mutharika’s recent behavior, marked by dozing off during the PAC meeting and now enthusiastically embracing a controversial figure like Mike Ben Chitenje, has raised new questions about his leadership judgment and the DPP’s electoral strategy.
The PAC meeting was meant to be an engagement around governance, peace, and credible elections. However, the contrast between that meeting and this subsequent one with Mike Ben Chitenje is jarring.
“It’s as if Mutharika is speaking two languages,” said a PAC source familiar with both engagements. “He pledges peaceful campaigns in public and then congratulates people with a history of violence in private.”
Civil society organisations have sounded alarms that this could signal the DPP’s preparedness to disrupt the electoral process if it fails to win. “Given Chitenje’s history, we fear he may be tasked with mobilizing the party’s militant youth groups again, which would be a step backward for Malawi’s democratic maturity,” said one civil society activist.
Beyond the threat to democratic processes, the re-engagement of individuals like Mike Ben Chitenje also speaks volumes about the political culture that remains entrenched within the DPP. Malawi has yet to fully recover from the trauma of politically-motivated violence seen in past elections. It not only intimidates voters and erodes confidence in elections, but it also tarnishes the international image of the country.
“Violence discourages voter turnout, particularly among women and the youth,” said a governance specialist. “It also increases the risk of retaliatory violence, creating a vicious cycle that distracts from real policy debates and meaningful development agendas.”
Other political parties have responded cautiously to the news of the Page House meeting, but insiders from the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and UTM Party privately expressed concern that the DPP is resorting to “old tactics.”
“Instead of new ideas, DPP seems to be falling back on chaos and threats,” said one senior MCP official. “That’s not leadership. It’s desperation.”
As the September elections draw closer, Malawi’s democracy faces a critical test. The political climate is already fragile, and meetings such as the one between Mutharika and Mike Ben Chitenje only add fuel to fears of instability. Stakeholders including MEC, PAC, security agencies, and civil society must step up efforts to monitor political conduct and hold party leaders accountable.
“The Malawi Electoral Commission must ensure that campaign regulations are enforced and that parties do not deploy tactics that threaten peace,” said an electoral observer and analyst.
She urged political leaders to demonstrate a commitment to peace in both word and deed. “The country is watching. The international community is watching. The choice is clear: build or burn.”
