Lilongwe is restless this afternoon as the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) prepares to hold a political rally at Masintha Ground in just a few hours. But while speakers test microphones and chairs are being arranged, something strange lingers in the air — the man said to be leading the charge, former President Arthur Peter Mutharika (APM), is nowhere near the scene. In fact, sources close to him say he is quietly resting at his Page House residence in Mangochi, far away from the political theatre about to unfold in the capital.
Despite this, DPP’s Vice President for the Centre, Alfred Gangata, and former presidential bodyguard Norman Chisale are gearing up to address the crowd. Their message? That APM is strong, healthy, and ready to lead the country once again. But many Malawians know better. Whispers from inside the party say the former president is frail, tired, and spending most of his days sleeping. It is like watching a puppet show, where the puppet never moves — yet the voice behind insists it’s alive.
Political observers believe Gangata and his allies are not being honest. They know APM’s health is failing, but they want to ride his name like a worn-out bicycle — hoping the memory of the past presidency can still carry them into the future. It’s a desperate attempt to use a respected name as a political mask. As one old proverb warns, “You cannot build a new house on a rotten foundation.”
Sources say their true plan is to win the election with Mutharika’s name on the ballot, only to control State House themselves while he quietly fades away in the background. The idea is not new — it’s an old trick in African politics: Use the old lion’s roar to scare people, then feast while it sleeps.
The low excitement around today’s rally says a lot. Posters have been put up, announcements made, but the mood in Lilongwe is far from electric. The streets near Masintha Ground are calm. Even some DPP supporters are asking tough questions: Why are they still clinging to a tired old man when the party has other options? Why is no one being honest?
A man at the market near Masintha said, “I supported DPP before, but this is just a show now. They are dragging the old man around like a scarecrow. What can he do in that state?”
Another woman selling vegetables nearby added, “If they can lie about his health, what else are they hiding?”
The Malawi Electoral Commission is expected to officially open the campaign season tomorrow. But with DPP beginning their journey like this — full of secrecy, manipulation, and tired tactics — many believe they are heading for trouble. It is no longer about leadership. It is about those behind the curtain trying to steal the stage.
As one political analyst joked on a radio call-in this morning, “DPP is not preparing for a comeback — they are preparing for a puppet show.”
Whether Malawians will fall for the act again remains to be seen. But if the turnout at Masintha this afternoon is as quiet as the streets suggest, then the message is already loud and clear: The people are awake, and the old tricks no longer work.
