Are parties in early campaign mode?

With three years to the next general election, some political parties have gone at full throttle holding rallies that analysts say are meant to consolidate their support.

The parties, which include main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and United Democratic Front (UDF), are already talking about 2025 general elections.

Over the weekend, MCP held a rally in Kasungu, DPP was in Balaka and UDF in Mangochi where senior members tried to convince people about the relevance of their parties.

In a telephone interview yesterday, political analyst Humphrey Mvula said competition among the parties, especially in the Tonse Alliance and DPP, is leading them on early campaign trails.

He said: “There is intense competition in the Tonse Alliance which is now becoming obvious because the Vice-President [Saulos Chilima] and President Lazarus Chakwera are competitors. Dust has not settled.

“In the DPP they are suffering the same. Their biggest nightmare is Kondwani Nankhumwa, the party’s vice-president [South] who is becoming famous by the day.”

For the Tonse Alliance, Mvula said the absence of a known memorandum of understanding (MoU) to define its political agenda, is what will further lead to bickering and turbulence between UTM Party and MCP.

He said Malawians will often see such campaign rallies as members try to annihilate competition, and position themselves for 2025.

Political analyst Ernest Thindwa said the emerging trend relating to parties holding rallies reveals the insatiable desire to retain or wrestle the reins of power.

He said: “What is disappointing is that in those rallies Malawians are not being offered with competing policy propositions or plan of action with the potential to take the country forward, but rather the rallies are essentially an attempt by competing parties to either retain or wrestle power without paying due attention to dividends to accrue to Malawians.”

Thindwa said such a practice does not suggest that State power is being sought as a development tool, but an instrument essential for securing personal gains.

But when contacted MCP spokesperson the Reverend Maurice Munthali asked for more time before responding while UDF spokesperson Yusuf Mwawa said the party is not in campaign mode despite holding the rallies.

Said Mwawa: “Indeed UDF is holding rallies as part of its efforts to rebuild the party through engaging its members from grass roots.”

He said the party is also using such gatherings to remind the Tonse Alliance administration to fulfil its campaign promises and not give Malawians flimsy reasons for the various hardships they are facing.

But our efforts to speak to DPP administrative secretary Francis Mphepo proved futile as he could not be reached on his known mobile number.