Over the years, fire has remained a recurrent weapon of choice in DPP’s political arsenal.
The recent torching of a vehicle on the convoy of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Vice President for the Central Region, Alfred Gangata, in Mponela, Dowa, has ignited a political firestorm.
While investigations by the Malawi Police Service are ongoing and several suspects have been arrested, the DPP has already gone on the offensive — publicly accusing the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) of orchestrating the attack.
However, emerging details and political commentary suggest that the incident may be more complicated than DPP officials would have Malawians believe, with some analysts suggesting the possibility of an “inside job” designed to paint the MCP in a negative light ahead of the September elections.
On Saturday evening, a Toyota Hiace minibus on Gangata’s convoy was allegedly set ablaze by unidentified individuals. DPP Youth Director Pythius Hiwa, popularly known as Norman Paulosi Chisale, swiftly laid blame on the MCP without providing any supporting evidence.
The police have confirmed the launch of an investigation but have cautioned against premature conclusions. “Investigations are underway, and some suspects have been arrested, but at this stage, we cannot attribute the act to any political party,” a senior police official stated.
Despite the lack of conclusive findings, the DPP held a press briefing on Monday, doubling down on their accusations against the MCP. Former President Arthur Peter Mutharika went as far as condemning the ruling party for allegedly fomenting political violence and stifling democratic space in the Central Region — a statement critics argue was premature and politically expedient.
Political and security commentators have raised eyebrows at the DPP’s unusually rapid and assertive blame-shifting, suggesting the party may be using the incident to garner sympathy, rally supporters, and tarnish MCP’s image in a region that will be pivotal in the upcoming elections.
Intriguingly, a senior DPP insider revealed that the attack may have originated from internal rivalries within the party itself, particularly around the contentious issue of who should be Peter Mutharika’s running mate. He confided that there is a faction within the party, determined to prevent Gangata from being picked as ailing Peter Mutharikas running mate.
“Gangata is widely seen as Norman Chisales stooge and proxy. There is deep resistance from powerful figures in the Southern and Eastern regions of the party who are uncomfortable with the idea of the presidency potentially slipping to the Central Region via Gangata,” said a senior DPP official.
The Pangolin earlier reported of a plot to front the aged Mutharika deputised by Gangata, Chisale’s “yes bwana”, with the sinister intention that he takes over from Mutharika, in the event that the old man is incapacitated.
This internal strife is rooted in a reported strategy by Chisale and former First Lady Gertrude Mutharika to position Gangata, an illiterate currently embroiled in a legal dispute over the authenticity of his MSCE certificate, to step in if Mutharika, now visibly frail, is incapacitated.
Gangata is being preferred over DPP Gurus as he is expected to be a push over for Chisale and the rest of the cabal.
“This was not an ordinary attack. If it wasn’t an inside job orchestrated by DPP thugs, then someone had incredibly detailed knowledge of Gangata’s itinerary and the convoy’s movements. The attackers were precisely positioned, and the scene was suspiciously well-documented — almost theatrically so,” observed the insider.
He added: “Do you believe in coincidence? The attackers, somehow, just guessed that the convoy will stop at Mponela. They were at the right spot at the right time.”
Former intelligence officer Pierce Damalekani echoed these suspicions warning against hasty conclusions before police investigators have made any significant leads
“In our world anything is possible. Anyone could have done this. The timing is strange. MCP is unlikely to orchestrate such an act in its stronghold, knowing the inevitable political fallout. And isn’t it strange that the minibus was evacuated just in time for filming? That’s a red flag” said Damalekani.
“Someone knew better. They understood what people’s suspicions would be and capitalised on it. In my view that arson was intended for show,” he added.
Damalekani pointed out that such political dramatics are often used to influence public perception, especially when elections are near. “This looks more like a performance than a crime of passion. Someone was counting on the narrative sticking.”
Analysts are also questioning DPP’s moral high ground given the party’s checkered past with political violence. DPP’s love for violence is well documented. Over the years, fire has remained a recurrent weapon of choice in DPP’s political arsenal, making it difficult for the party to convincingly distance itself from violent acts, especially those that appear staged or provocatively timed.
A district governor from Machinga is on record urging supporters to set fire to opposition members’ homes — a statement that shocked many but was never disavowed by the party leadership.
Soon after the 2020 elections re-run, Malawi Police arrested members of a DPP gang, which was supported by some UDF vigilants, that allegedly torched UTM offices in Lilongwe, in the process, killing three people of the same family.
Prior to the fresh presidential election, the UTM offices were set of fire by a petrol bomb which killed late Selemani Tambala who was residing in the building with his family. His wife was also killed.
Three children of late Tambala who lost both their father and mother during the DPP arson
The arrests were difficult when Mutharika with his DPP was in power despite various stakeholders, including the civil society organisations demanding justice for the Tambala family.
With these revelations of an internal stunt, the arson incident in Mponela, has severe implications on DPP’s credibility. Even worse, it reflects a worrying trend within DPP of weaponizing violence and fear to manipulate voters, sow division, and erode trust in the democratic process.
With national elections just four months away, DPP and other opposition players should be focused on offering Malawians clear, evidence-based visions for the future — not turning every crisis into a stage-managed drama.
Yes, the Malawi Police Service owes the public a thorough and transparent investigation, but Malawians also owe themselves a pause before rushing to believe every politically convenient narrative. In the end, democracy is only as strong as the truth we are willing to demand from those who seek to lead us.
