In a blistering Facebook critique that has quickly ignited debate, political and social analyst Lyson Sibande has accused opposition leader and former president Arthur Peter Mutharika (APM) of running a passive, press-conference-driven campaign while Malawi races toward a high-stakes general election just three months away.
Sibande didn’t hold back, calling Mutharika’s latest media briefing a “waste of time” and a “desperate attempt” by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to prove their aging leader is ready for battle. “If APM is serious about the September elections, he needs to get off his chair at Page House and hit the campaign trail,” Sibande wrote. “Being in the opposition already puts you at a disadvantage—you must work twice as hard as the incumbent. But instead, he’s acting like he’s still president.”
In a dramatic takedown, Sibande suggested Mutharika’s reluctance to hit the ground is a sign of deeper fatigue. “He’s not desperate for power. He’s not panicking. At his age, another term doesn’t excite him,” he said, adding that the DPP must face the hard truth: “APM is the wrong candidate. He’s too frail, too unmotivated, and subconsciously unbothered by the possibility of defeat.”
The analyst warned that this lethargy could cost the DPP dearly in September. “They might manage around 35% from their core base, but without a candidate willing to fight, that’s their ceiling.” His message to the DPP was clear: quit hiding behind microphones and take the fight to the people—or lose by default.
