In a scene that left court observers in shock, notorious DPP cadet Yona Malunga Friday tried to physically attack Malawi’s Attorney General, Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda, right at the High Court premises in Blantyre. The brazen act has been described as a chilling reminder of the arrogance and impunity that once defined the DPP era.
According to Attorney General Nyirenda himself, the drama unfolded just minutes after the court delivered its ruling rejecting DPP and UTM’s application to audit Smartmatic technology, which will be used in managing next week’s elections. “Malunga charged towards me, shouting ‘Thabo ndiwe munthu oyipa kwambiri. Chitsiru! Tithana nawe,’” Nyirenda revealed.
It took the swift intervention of DPP lawyer Bob Chimkango to block Malunga’s advance and rush the Attorney General back into a safe room inside the court. “I didn’t know his name, but Chimkango told me the man who came at me was Yona Malunga,” Nyirenda explained. Security later escorted him to safety.
Police are now reportedly hunting for Malunga, whose reckless behaviour has reignited memories of the terror and violence of DPP cadets during Peter Mutharika’s regime. For many Malawians, this incident is proof that DPP has not changed—it remains a party of lawlessness, thuggery, and impunity.
Observers note the timing is no coincidence. With the September 16 elections just days away, the DPP appears desperate and willing to unleash chaos to undermine the credibility of the polls. But Malawians are asking: if this is how DPP behaves while still in opposition, what would happen if they ever returned to power?
For now, one thing is clear—the attempt to intimidate the Attorney General has backfired, exposing the true colours of DPP cadets like Yona Malunga. As one political analyst put it, “This is not politics. This is hooliganism dressed in blue.”
