Suleman Chitera 
By Suleman Chitera
14th September 2026
One of the gravest mistakes a political party can make after ascending to power is to forget the very people who worked tirelessly to deliver its victory.
Political victories are rarely built by leaders alone. Behind every successful campaign are thousands of ordinary supporters, activists, communicators, organisers and loyal foot soldiers who invest their time, resources, energy and, sometimes, their personal safety in the political cause they believe in.
Comrade Imran Jumbe says the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) must not lose sight of this reality.
His warning is simple but profound: a political party that abandons its roots eventually risks weakening the very foundation upon which its political strength depends.
As the old African wisdom goes, when you uproot the roots of a tree because you cannot see them, you should not be surprised when the tree eventually falls.
The roots of a mighty tree remain hidden beneath the soil. They receive little recognition, yet they provide the foundation that enables the tree to stand tall.
Politics is no different.
The people behind the victory
According to Jumbe, many ordinary DPP supporters endured difficult political seasons when the party was out of government.
They spent countless hours mobilising communities, defending the party’s position, communicating its message and challenging the policies and governance record of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) administration.
Others used their own resources to support political activities, while political commentators and activists invested their pens and voices in the campaign for political change.
These efforts, Jumbe argues, should not simply be forgotten once political power has been attained.
“Power positions and money have a way of changing people,” he observes, warning against a culture in which individuals who reach positions of influence become detached from the people who supported them during difficult times.
The concern is not necessarily about rewarding individuals with positions.
It is about recognition, inclusion, consultation and respect for those who stood by the party when standing with it was difficult.
When the hands that planted the seed are forgotten
There is a painful political reality that can emerge after victory.
Those who planted the seed may find themselves watching from the sidelines while others arrive to harvest the fruit.
Jumbe argues that this can create frustration among genuine supporters, particularly when they feel that their sacrifices are remembered only during election campaigns.
A political party that remembers its foot soldiers only when it needs votes, mobilisation or political support risks creating a dangerous disconnect between its leadership and grassroots structures.
A farmer does not remember his hoe only when the rainy season arrives.
In the same way, political organisations should not remember their grassroots supporters only when elections approach.
The relationship between a political party and its supporters must extend beyond election periods.
The politics of new arrivals
Jumbe also raises another sensitive issue: the arrival of people who previously opposed the party but later seek political accommodation after circumstances change.
There is, of course, nothing inherently wrong with political reconciliation.
Democracy requires dialogue, cooperation and, at times, the ability to work with former political opponents for the greater national interest.
Political parties must remain open to new members and different perspectives.
However, Jumbe’s argument is that reconciliation should not come at the expense of those who remained loyal throughout the difficult years.
A party can welcome newcomers while still respecting the people who built its grassroots foundation.
The two principles do not have to conflict.
The challenge for political leadership is to distinguish between genuine political reconciliation and opportunistic political migration.
Loyalty should not become invisible
Political loyalty is often easiest to recognise when a party is popular and in government.
The real test comes when the party is struggling.
Those who remain committed during difficult periods demonstrate a different kind of political investment.
They may not hold influential positions.
They may not have financial resources.
They may not have access to the corridors of power.
But they can possess something equally important: institutional memory, grassroots credibility and long-term commitment.
Ignoring such people can gradually weaken a party’s connection with ordinary citizens.
Political parties are not sustained by leaders alone.
They survive through networks of supporters, local organisers, volunteers, communicators, community leaders and activists who carry the party’s message into communities.
DPP must protect its political roots
For the DPP, Jumbe’s warning carries an important lesson.
The party must continue building bridges between its leadership and grassroots structures.
That means listening to ordinary supporters, recognising genuine contributions and creating meaningful channels through which concerns can reach those in positions of authority.
It also means avoiding a political culture in which access to leadership is determined solely by proximity, wealth or personal connections.
The strength of any political organisation ultimately depends on the confidence its supporters have in its leadership.
If grassroots members begin to believe that their sacrifices are irrelevant once victory has been achieved, the consequences can extend beyond individual disappointment.
Disillusioned supporters can become politically inactive, while others may eventually look elsewhere for representation.
That is why political leadership must treat grassroots loyalty as an asset rather than an inconvenience.
The elephant still needs the ground beneath its feet
The DPP may be a powerful political organisation, but political strength cannot be separated from grassroots support.
As Jumbe puts it, “The elephant may be powerful, but it still needs the ground beneath its feet.”
The message is particularly relevant in a democracy where political fortunes can change rapidly.
No political party should assume that today’s popularity automatically guarantees tomorrow’s victory.
Political parties must continually earn the confidence of citizens.
That requires leadership that listens, communicates and remains connected to the people.
The famous African proverb says: “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.”
For the DPP, the lesson is clear.
If the party wants to build a durable political future, it cannot afford to leave its own people behind.
It must recognise those who carried the political load when the journey was difficult.
It must welcome new supporters without humiliating old ones.
It must embrace reconciliation without rewarding opportunism at the expense of loyalty.
And, above all, it must remember that the people standing quietly beneath the political tree today may be the very people who determine whether that tree remains standing tomorrow.
The roots may not always be visible. But without the roots, there is no mighty tree.
“My pen is mightier than a sword.” — Comrade Imran Jumbe
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