After a two-week disappearance, former president Peter Mutharika is today set to join the campaign trail for the September 16 General Election with whistle-stop rallies from Mangochi to Lilongwe through Ntcheu.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday said its reclusive presidential candidate, who has conspicuously missed from the campaign trail since his last public appearance at Njamba Freedom Park in Blantyre on August 3 2025 when the party unveiled its campaign and manifesto, will campaign today.
Since launching the campaign, it has been Mutharika’s running mate Jane Ansah, a retired Justice of Appeal, who took charge of the campaign—showing up in the Southern, Central and Northern regions.
But speaking in an interview yesterday, DPP secretary general Peter Mukhito said Mutharika, 85, has a tight campaign schedule this week starting with whistle-stops at Nsipe, Ntcheu Boma and Biwi in Lilongwe today.
He said Mutharika will on Friday continue with the whistle-stop rallies on his way to the Northern Region where he is expected to conduct a number of political engagements.
“During the whistle-stops and any other political engagements, he will be articulating how he intends to turnaround the country’s economy and address challenges Malawians are currently facing,” said Mukhitho.
While Mutharika missed on the campaign trail, incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi Congress Party, former president Joyce Banda of People’s Party, Vice-President Michael Usi of Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu, UTM Party president Dalitso Kabambe, United Democratic Front torchbearer Atupele Muluzi and several others of the 17 presidential candidates have been criss-crossing the country in search for votes.
Today, Banda will be at Thondwe Trading Centre in Zomba to mobilise voters before travelling to Mangochi where she will hold two campaign rallies at Chilipa on Friday and Makanjira on Saturday.
Last Saturday, Banda, who ascended to the presidency in April 2012 in line with constitutional order after the death of president Bingu wa Mutharika before losing the 2014 presidential election to Peter Mutharika, was at Nyambadwe Ground in Blantyre and held another rally at Malosa in Zomba before travelling to Mimosa in Mulanje on Monday.
Usi is this afternoon expected to hold whistle-stops in Nsanje after doing the same in Chikwawa yesterday.
On the other hand, Chakwera is this week in the Central Region. However, MCP publicity secretary Jessie Kwabwila declined to give details of the President’s itinerary, saying doing so would pose a security risk.
Malawians go to the polls on September 16 to elect a President, legislators and ward councillors. There are 17 presidential candidates duly approved by Malawi Electoral Commission with Banda as the sole female candidate.
