A meeting held on Wednesday between Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) President Arthur Peter Mutharika and the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) ended in frustration, with the influential quasi-religious body reportedly urging the 89-year-old former president to withdraw from the September 16 presidential race, The Pangolin Online has established.
The closed-door meeting, which took place at Mutharika’s private residence — Page House in Mangochi — was part of PAC’s nationwide engagements with presidential candidates to promote peaceful and fair elections.
Both PAC and Mutharika’s office have been reluctant to disclose what was discussed and agreed during the meeting, however, sources present have disclosed that the discussion took an unexpected turn as PAC officials became increasingly concerned over Mutharika’s physical state and lack of engagement.
One source within PAC, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the former president as “disengaged, dozing off frequently, and showing little interest in the conversation.”
Another source, a senior PAC official said: “We were hoping to discuss national issues of governance, electoral fairness, and peaceful campaigning. But the meeting was derailed by the former president’s condition.”
According to the insiders, PAC directly asked Mutharika to consider stepping aside from the the September presidential race, citing his advanced age and visible signs of fatigue and ill health which they said could hinder his ability to lead an effective campaign.
“It was clear to many of us that the old man needs to rest,” a PAC official remarked. “The inactiveness and confusion during the meeting were troubling. It’s not the Mutharika we used to know.”
In his response, the sources revealed that Mutharika asked PAC to give him time to think over it and to also have consultations with his party and closer family members.
However, the sources said Mutharika surprised the meeting when he went off the agenda and called on PAC to support the opposition in its bid to defeat the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera in September.
“He openly told us that it is clear that without support from religious bodies like PAC and other civil society organisations, the opposition has no capacity to oust the strong MCP or in case of a run-off to get the 50%+1 votes. He explained to us that this is the reason the party is forcing him to come back and contest,” said the source.
Despite PAC’s reported concerns, DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba dismissed the matter in an interview, calling it a “smear campaign.”
“The former president is in perfect health and remains the most capable and experienced candidate to lead Malawi,” Namalomba said. “These claims are nothing but attempts to discredit him by those afraid of his return to power.”
However, political analysts have described the episode as a wake-up call for the DPP. Political scientist Chrispin Sauzande, speaking to one of the local media outlets, said the incident, if true, reflects internal turmoil within the party.
“If Mutharika was not engaged during such a critical meeting, then it speaks volumes about the internal crisis facing the DPP,” Sauzande said. “A candidate who is not in full control of his faculties cannot effectively articulate policies or inspire public confidence.”
Elections expert Makhumbo Munthali also weighed in, urging the DPP to reconsider its decision before nomination day.
“The electoral process requires agility, clarity, and engagement. If your candidate appears disinterested or exhausted before the campaign even begins, what does that say about your readiness to govern?” Munthali asked. “The party still has time to replace the presidential candidate, but time is running out.”
Efforts to reach PAC Publicity Secretary Bishop Gifford Matonga were unsuccessful.
PAC Executive Director Robert Phiri said PAC met Mutharika in his capacity as a presidential candidate. He said similar meetings will be held with other contenders to discuss peace, governance, and election conduct. However, Phiri declined to confirm whether Mutharika’s health and candidacy were discussed in the meeting.
As pressure mounts within political and civil society circles, the DPP now finds itself at a crossroads — whether to stick with its aging leader or chart a new course ahead of the highly anticipated September elections.
