Minister of State Alfred Gangata has thrown the Peter Mutharika administration into an awkward crouch, having criticized presidential appointments and calling for partisan distribution of relief food and agricultural subsidies.
During a rally at Chilimampunga Ground in Lilongwe on Sunday, Gangata, who is also DPP vice-president (Centre), accused people he did not name of misleading Mutharika in hiring senior public officials who never participated in the campaign.
He said: “There are some people appointed into public offices by sheer luck, by simply telling Mutharika lies. There is nothing they have done and if they continue talking nonsense, I will send boys to kick them out of their offices.
“Let me not hear someone saying, oh, I am a professional and all that! When we were working hard to win, where were you? Stop lying to Mutharika, stop the nonsense! Let those who worked hard benefit!”
At the same event, Gangata also told chiefs to prioritise DPP supporters as beneficiaries of Farm Inputs Subsidy Programme (Fisp) and food relief initiatives.
He said: “I am told that on relief maize and fertiliser, Malawi Congress Party [MCP] members are being prioritised. Those of you registering beneficiaries, stop this!
“Chiefs, start registering names of DPP members who have worked hard to benefit first from these programmes, they should also be happy.”
Gangata’s stance runs counter to Vice-President Jane Ansah’s speech against favouritism when she launched the 2025/26 Lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme for the Northern Region on Friday at Kavitowo Primary School in Mzimba.
Ansah said President Mutharika wants the relief maize to reach every Malawian in need, regardless of political affiliation.
At least four million Malawians face hunger this year, forcing Mutharika to declare a State on Disaster in all the country’s 28 districts and four cities.
Government requires K209 billion to feed its starving citizens, but has only raised around K62 billion, leaving a deficit of K147 billion that Capital Hill hopes development partners, corporations and other well-wishers will help to cover.
Yesterday, political and governance pundits took a swipe at Gangata over his remarks and urged Mutharika to rein him in.
In a written response, an expert in democracy and comparative politics Joseph Chunga said Gangata embodies a political mindset that sees public appointments as patronage rewards for ‘loyalists and sycophants’.
“Their idea of governing is rooted in self-interest. Expecting meaningful delivery is futile. For many, the goal is outright plunder—what some have aptly called the politics of the belly.
“President Mutharika already set the tone in his speeches that he wants a government that delivers. He should keep the focus on making appointments that reflect this commitment, prioritizing competence and integrity over loyalty,” he said.
Chunga urged Mutharika and the DPP to publicly condemn Gangata’s utterances, especially the threats against public servants.
Governance pundit Undule Mwakasungula agreed, saying a Cabinet minister openly challenging or threatening people appointed by the President shows a serious breach of collective responsibility and respect for the appointing authority.
He opined that the situation signals that some people within the DPP politburo, especially those who once assumed they would call the shots, now feel they are losing control.
Said Mwakasungula: “These remarks point to divisions between those who expect political rewards for campaigning and those who believe appointments must prioritise professionalism and capacity.”
On his part, political science expert Wonderful Mkhutche noted that trouble was brewing within the DPP, saying these are elements of unsatisfactory behaviour that are slowly coming out in the open.
Yesterday, presidential press secretary Cathy Maulidi had not responded to our questions by press time.
However, during swearing-in of some Cabinet ministers, Mutharika challenged them to prioritise improving the welfare of Malawians through efficient service delivery and not be bent on reaping personal gains.
Gangata neither picked his phone nor answered our questions sent via WhatsApp yesterday.
