The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and its vice President (central region) Alfred Gangata have been exposed again as the main architects behind the violent attack on President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera’s convoy and Malawi Congress Party supporters on Friday at Chimbiya in Dedza.
At least six people were injured when a group of men dressed in identical white Muslim robes continued hurling stones at MCP supporters shortly after President Chakwera had passed through the area on his way from commissioning the new Dedza/Colomue One-Stop Border Post alongside Mozambican President Daniel Chapo.
Police have not yet named any suspects, but multiple sources, both from within the area and law enforcers, have revealed that the attackers are suspected to be DPP operatives hired by Gangata and ferried from Lilongwe’s Mgona Township with instructions to stage unrest under the guise that people are not happy with the current administration.
“This was a calculated move to destabilize the region and paint a picture that people in Dedza have rejected Chakwera,” said a senior police official who indicated that so far the law enforcers have launched investigations and already have leads as to who were behind the attack.
“It is clear that they were not ordinary people from Chimbiya. They were well coordinated, with a clear plan,” he added.
Videos circulating on social media showed the assailants wearing similar Muslim robes, leading to speculation that the costumes were intended to manipulate perceptions and create a smokescreen to implicate religious groups.
This latest incident comes just weeks after another widely condemned stunt in Dowa, where a DPP-branded vehicle was set ablaze in what was initially blamed on MCP youths. However, police investigations later revealed that the vehicle was torched by DPP operatives themselves to fabricate political victimhood and stir public anger against the ruling party.
According to security sources, the vehicle was deliberately burned by insiders to claim persecution and manipulate the media narrative ahead of campaign season.
“Twice now, the DPP has been caught red-handed trying to provoke civil unrest and incite public outrage through misinformation and staged attacks,” said a governance analyst in Lilongwe. “This is a classic tactic of authoritarian regimes trying to stage a comeback.”
Gangata, a well-known illiterate controversial political figure, has also long been mired in serious illegal activities ranging from forgery to tax evasion. Currently he is in court over getting an MSCE certificate fraudulently without sitting for the examination.
He is also known for having been awarded questionable government contracts during the DPP’s tenure under Peter Mutharika’s administration.
Observers note that his rising influence within the DPP and his alleged involvement in recent acts of political violence raise serious concerns about the party’s campaign strategy and commitment to peaceful democratic competition.
“If Gangata is indeed behind these operations, then it shows how far DPP is willing to go to engineer instability and regain power through deception and fear,” said a political commentator.
So far, the DPP leadership has not officially commented on either the Dedza incident or the Dowa vehicle burning. Repeated attempts to reach DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba and Gangata himself have gone unanswered.
Meanwhile, the Malawi Police Service says investigations are ongoing.
“As of now, we are gathering more evidence, including reviewing video footage and speaking with eyewitnesses. We will act swiftly and impartially once the culprits are identified.” said a police officer in Dedza.
Ahead of the September, President Chakwera has continued calling for peaceful political engagement.
“Malawi belongs to all of us,” the President said recently. “Let us not allow political differences to breed violence and lawlessness. The future of our country depends on unity, not division.”
Chakwera’s government has maintained that it will not be intimidated by acts of provocation and has urged law enforcement to bring all political agitators, regardless of party affiliation, to justice.
With elections just three months away, political analysts are warning of increased attempts by desperate political actors to manufacture unrest to discredit the government and gain public sympathy.
“Malawians need to be vigilant and question everything. We are seeing deliberate attempts to provoke violence, manipulate emotions, and undermine the electoral process. This is not just about Gangata or DPP. This is about national peace and the integrity of our democracy,” said a governance expert.
