By Linda Kwanjana
On June 28, 2020, Malawi’s Electoral Commission (MEC) declared Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, the leader of the then opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), the winner of the presidential election re-run with 58.57% of the vote. The victory followed a Constitutional Court ruling that had annulled the May 2019 presidential election, which had declared the then-incumbent Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) the winner.
The DPP’s Refusal to Accept Defeat and the Consequences
Since the MCP and Chakwera attained power, the DPP particularly its leader, Peter Mutharika, has never accepted defeat. This refusal to recognize the legitimate winner of the election has had far-reaching embarrassing consequences for Mutharika and Malawi suffered negative gains on political harmony which is one of catalysts of economic development for a country.
Mutharika’s unwillingness to accept the electoral outcome has led the party to resort to desperate measures in an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of the MCP-led government. Recently, Mutharika’s profile agents led by Blantyre City South constituency MP, Sameer Suleman, have openly embarrassed themselves with condemnable outbursts which have not found public favour, forcing them to retreat to caves.
In 2022, the DPP openly supported some civil society groups in organizing demonstrations against the government, calling on all party structures and supporters to participate and even requesting the government to provide necessary support, including security, to the protesters. Unfortunately, the calls failed to materialize, further highlighting the unwillingness on the part of the public to be used for political selfish gains emanating from a bitter presidential candidate who is failing to reconcile with his loss.
This tactic of sponsoring civil society groups to cause unrest is a clear attempt by the DPP to destabilize the country and discredit the MCP-led administration. However, these efforts have so far proven futile, as the government has remained steadfast in its commitment to upholding the rule of law and democratic principles.
Furthermore, the DPP and Mutharika have been actively peddling false narratives, accusing the MCP-led government of failure, despite the fact that amidst the current economic challenges facing Malawi which are largely global in nature, the government is delivering on flagship development projects that are a testament to not only a focused, but also a prudent leadership.
The strategy of spreading disinformation and scapegoating the government is a desperate attempt by Mutharika to sway undecided voters and regain political power, rather than offering constructive solutions to the nation’s pressing issues. While there is nothing wrong with anyone at all aspiring to get power, what is totally unacceptable is for a tried failure of Mutharika calibre who inflicted multiple folds of miseries on Malawians, to assume that Malawians have forgotten and deleted his callous misdeeds.
Mutharika’s refusal to accept defeat and his subsequent efforts to undermine the legitimacy of the MCP-led government has had a detrimental impact on Malawi’s political progress which could have been one of harmony and transformed inter-party relations. Instead of engaging in constructive dialogue and working towards the betterment of the country, the DPP has chosen to prioritize its own political interests over the welfare of the Malawian people.
As Malawi continues to navigate the global economic challenges, it is crucial that the country’s political actors put aside their differences and work together to address the pressing issues facing the nation. The MCP-led government must remain steadfast in its commitment to democratic principles and continue to provide effective leadership, while the DPP must accept the will of the people and constructively contribute to the nation’s development.
Only through a unified, collaborative approach can Malawi overcome the current challenges and pave the way for a brighter and more prosperous future.
 declared Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, the leader of the then opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), the winner of the…){kind=link}