By Burnett Munthali
Former President of Malawi and leader of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, delivered a heartfelt end-of-year message on December 31, 2024, urging Malawians to reflect on their challenges, reignite hope, and work together for a brighter future.
Mutharika expressed gratitude to God for the resilience and perseverance Malawians have shown despite the hardships of the past year. He acknowledged the trials faced by families, farmers, and youth across the nation but emphasized that their ability to endure is a testament to their strength and unity.
Reflecting on the achievements of his party, Mutharika highlighted the historic DPP convention held earlier in the year. He noted that the convention reaffirmed the party’s commitment to rebuilding Malawi and restoring hope for its citizens. Mutharika said he was honored to be chosen once again to lead the DPP into the 2025 elections, pledging credible, capable, and compassionate leadership.
He called on his party members to remain united and resolute as they prepare to bring change to a country that, he claimed, has suffered under the failures of the current government.
Mutharika painted a grim picture of Malawi in 2024, describing a nation overwhelmed by economic and social challenges. He cited skyrocketing prices, collapsed farming support systems, a crippling forex crisis, widespread youth unemployment, fuel shortages, and severe food insecurity as evidence of a failed government.
He lamented that many Malawians were surviving on buffalo beans and boiled mangoes, a situation he described as “the worst hunger crisis in our lifetime.” Comparing the current state of the nation to the progress made under his leadership, Mutharika claimed that Malawi’s dreams have been shattered by broken promises.
“This is not the Malawi we built together,” he said. “But this is not our destiny.”
Mutharika expressed deep concern over what he described as growing threats to Malawi’s democracy, including selective justice, harassment of opposition leaders, and intimidation of journalists and media houses. He emphasized that these actions undermine the principles of freedom, justice, and human rights on which the nation was built.
He assured Malawians that the DPP would fight against such injustices and work to restore the rule of law, protect press freedom, and ensure equal treatment for all citizens.
The former president also addressed the tragic loss of Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima and eight others, calling their deaths a profound tragedy that left the nation in mourning. He urged Malawians to honor their memory by seeking truth, embracing unity, and striving for a better future.
Mutharika appealed to Malawians to come together in prayer, especially for delayed rains that threaten food security and livelihoods. He emphasized that faith and unity are essential in overcoming challenges and called on citizens to register in large numbers for the upcoming elections, describing their votes as the cornerstone of democracy.
Describing 2025 as a pivotal election year, Mutharika urged Malawians to reject the failures of the past and choose a path of hope, stability, and prosperity. He promised that the DPP would prioritize affordable food, job creation, education, healthcare, and accountable leadership if elected.
“Malawi is a resilient nation,” he said. “Under the DPP, we showed what good leadership can achieve. We can and must rebuild our nation—together.”
Closing his address, Mutharika expressed hope and confidence in the resilience of Malawians. He encouraged them to step into the New Year with purpose, faith, and determination to reclaim their nation’s destiny.
“Together, we can rebuild our nation, restore its dignity, and forge a future of shared prosperity for all,” he concluded.
Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika wished all Malawians a blessed and prosperous New Year, reaffirming his commitment to their welfare and to the future of the Republic of Malawi.
