By Suleman Chitera
The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has filed a formal complaint with the Registrar of Political Parties, accusing President Lazarus Chakwera and the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) of manipulating voters and abusing public resources in the run-up to the forthcoming General Elections.
In a letter dated July 18, 2025, and signed by the party’s Secretary General, Peter Mukhito, the DPP alleges that President Chakwera — who is also the MCP presidential candidate — has been distributing handouts and cash during official campaign activities. The opposition party describes the conduct as a “sly and deceitful” scheme meant to buy political loyalty.
According to the DPP, MCP operatives have been disbursing at least MK50,000 in cash to various groups, including community leaders, youth representatives, teachers, and religious leaders. The letter claims these handouts were given during orchestrated visits to State Residences in Lilongwe, Sanjika in Blantyre, Mzuzu State House, and Chikoko Bay in Mangochi.
The DPP further alleges that many of the recipients were transported to these venues using government vehicles, raising serious questions about the misuse of public resources.
“The behavior of the MCP presidential candidate is not only against the law but also morally wrong,” reads part of the letter. “It is a sly and deceitful tactic that undermines the integrity of our political system and goes against the values of a fair and just election.”
The party argues that such conduct directly contravenes Section 41 of the Political Parties Act of 2018, which forbids the use of public funds for campaign purposes.
As of Friday, both President Chakwera and the MCP had yet to issue a response to the accusations.
The Registrar of Political Parties, too, has not publicly commented on the complaint.
With barely two months before Malawians head to the polls, the DPP’s allegations set the stage for a heated political contest, as concerns grow over electoral fairness and the abuse of incumbency.
