Chaponda asks Malawians to trust APM

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vice-president for the South George Chaponda has urged people in the country to have trust in former president Arthur Peter Mutharika, saying he is the only one who can turn the economy around.

Speaking at the DPP Southern Region Headquarters yesterday when he met party delegates, Chaponda who is also Leader of Opposition in Parliament, said the current administration has failed to fulfil its promises and the DPP has a high chance of winning the September 16 2025 General Elections.

“Malawi has been destroyed and the only one who can redeem this situation is Mutharika.

“Whatever people can say about the DPP period in government, we have seen that there are issues that have not been responded to by the current administration,” said Chaponda.

Mutharika lost the 2020 court-sanctioned fresh presidential election to President Lazarus Chakwera and the party’s functional review report in 2021 said DPP supporters were dismayed by tribalism, corruption and selfishness of party leaders.

However, Chaponda did not come out clearly on what new message the party will be taking to voters ahead of the 2025 General Elections.

Commenting on the issue, political analyst Victor Chipofya said lives of Malawians have worsened since 2020 and this is what is giving the DPP confidence that they can come back.

He said: “But looking at the way Malawians demonstrated between 2019 and 2020, I don’t think they want to go back to the same. Malawians want something better.”

Another political analyst Wonderful Mkutche said Malawians may not be satisfied with the Tonse Alliance but it is too early for them to trust the DPP again.

The DPP meeting in Blantyre was attended by Thyolo West legislator Charles Mchacha, Nsanje Lalanje legislator Gladys Ganda and various district governors from the Southern Region.

In her remarks, Ganda said there have been divisions in the DPP in recent months and there is a need to unite the party.

“If we do not do that it means we will not get back into government,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of district governors, Blantyre district governor Elias Mazudi also called on party leaders to promote unity.

DPP is set to hold its convention from August 17 to 18 this year.