By John Robert Moyo – Our Correspondent
In the kaleidoscopic theatre of the opposition politics, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has taken center stage, lighting up the narrative with a spectacle that drips with irony and highlights the party’s self-proclaimed ideals of democracy—ideals undermined by a glaring disarray of internal conflict and draconian governance.
The latest uproar, triggered by allegations of betrayal regarding the contentious Age Bill, serves as another reminder that the DPP, despite its nomenclature, embodies the very antithesis of democratic principles.
Peter Mukhito, the DPP’s Secretary General, has publicly declared a war on alleged “internal sabotage.” The party’s stern response to the supposed betrayal reflects a grim reality: dissent and discussion within the ranks of the DPP are met with the specter of surveillance and punishment rather than the open dialogue one would expect in a democratic arena.
The summons issued for Mr. Leston Mulli and his associates to Page House reeks of an authoritarian purging, reminiscent of less enlightened political regimes. Herein lies a contradiction for a party that champions democracy yet fails to respect its own foundational principles in practice.
Moreover, a curious double standard emerges among the DPP’s ranks. Many members are caught in a precarious balancing act, longing to express their discontent with Peter Mutharika’s leadership but fearing the retribution that could ensue. These individuals are compelled to play their cards close to their chests, adhering to a culture of silence and compliance, lest they incur the wrath of their party’s demons.
The pervasive climate of fear starkly reveals the undemocratic undercurrents flowing through the DPP. One cannot help but wonder: Where is the democratic dialogue for which the party ostensibly stands?
Meanwhile, at the eye of this political storm lies Dalitso Kabambe, leader of the UTM party, whose ambitions seem to wither as he finds himself tethered to a wishful coalition that he will not witness happening. Kabambe’s political strategy hinges on leveraging dissent within the DPP to bolster his own standing. However, as revelations of internal discontent surface, it seems he may have underestimated the risks of aligning his ambition so closely with possibilities of dethroning Mutharika from the DPP leading role.
With shadows cast upon his leadership, Kabambe finds himself navigating a turbulent sea where the winds of ambition are poised to shift against him very soon. We are here to witness the unfolding of what we already know as his endgame: Failure!
Amid the unfolding drama, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) stands on the sideline, watching with a gleeful glimmer in its eye: “Let them fight!” The spectacle of a disorganized and splintered opposition undeniably positions the ruling MCP for an easyl victory in the September showdown. The chinks in the DPP’s armor provide an unexpected opportunity for the MCP to leverage its steady footings and rally support while the opposition implodes under the weight of its own internal strife.
The current state of affairs paints a stark picture of the DPP’s transformation. What was once a party that boasted of upholding democratic values now appears to be a fractured entity bereft of internal cohesion, embroiled in fear, and poised to purge its own members like an authoritarian regime.
