Some senior Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) officials have come under fire over their attacks of Alliance for Democracy (Aford) president Enoch Chihana, saying that the remarks demonstrate insubordination and reveal a rift in the Blue Alliance.
During the campaign for today’s Rumphi Central Constituency by-election on Saturday, DPP vice-president (North) Jappie Mhango and regional governor (North) Christopher Mzomera Ngwira took turns in attacking Chihana, who is also the country’s Second Vice-President.
Ngwira accused Chihana of blocking the road with his motorcade and said he would not last in his position, which is based on appointment by the President. He also alleged that Chihana was abusing public resources in the campaign contrary to austerity measures championed by President Peter Mutharika.
Taking his turn, Mhango said Chihana has no ministerial post despite his role as Second Vice-President, as such, he cannot be looking down on them.
He said: “President Peter Mutharika appointed a Cabinet with myself as Minister of Transport… Have you ever heard that Enoch [Chihana] is a minister for something? Are you not surprised?
“What does he have? If he wants a road to his house, who will he beg from? A step-child can never become chief, never!”
In a telephone interview yesterday, Ngwira said the challenge arose because DPP and Aford, who teamed up in what was called Blue Alliance in the September 16 2025 General Election, did not agree on how to go about the by-election; hence, featuring rival candidates in the race.
He said: “We haven’t parted ways! What we expected was that Aford should have supported the DPP candidate or if Aford insisted, then Chihana should not have been campaigning. But he came, said lots of things while using government resources.
“Chihana claimed that Mutharika didn’t want DPP to field a candidate, that he will deprive us of development because he is the one running the show in the North. He called us his children and three times blocked us with his convoy.”
Ngwira said he was not privy to the “agreement between Mutharika and Chihana”, stating that “n’zawo zawokha, akuzidziwa okha [they know it themselves]”.
But Chihana yesterday said he would not comment on the matter.
In a statement yesterday, CCAP Synod of Livingstonia General Secretary the Reverend William Tembo said such utterances breach political decorum and threaten the social fabric of the nation.
Gift Sambo, an electoral and legislative politics expert from the University of Malawi, said with Aford having won the seat in 2025, DPP should have demonstrated loyalty to its only visible alliance partner by not fielding a candidate.
He said: “There was a need to have an explicit document spelling out on how alliance partners approach electoral competition.”
In a separate interview, Mzuzu University politics for development pundit Chrispine Mphande said the situation suggests some loss of trust between DPP and Aford.
He said: “Looking at the voting pattern in the 2025 polls, DPP was winning straight away without a coalition partner. Other DPP leaders are clearly showing that Aford’s contribution to the election results was very minimal.”
On his part, governance analyst George Chaima said Ngwira and Mhango had crossed the red line, insisting that Chihana remains the Second Vice-President and that by virtue of his portfolio he is above the two.
Civil Society Elections Integrity Forum chairperson Benedicto Kondowe said clearer communication and coordination among parties could have helped manage expectations during the campaign period.
In a separate statement, Young Politicians Union (YPU) North Chapter chairperson Mervin Nxumayo said the remarks signal insubordination to the Presidency, but also a manifestation that the two do not understand how the government machinery operates.
