…his long time supporter tells him off
…dumps the party
By Faith Simbi
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has been rocked by internal strife following a fiery exchange between its leader, former President Arthur Peter Mutharika (APM), and longtime supporter Cathebert Kachale.
Kachale is a Zimbabwe based Malawian commentator who has now publicly withdrawn his support for Mutharika’s leadership.
What started as an online debate quickly escalated into a scathing rebuke of the former President’s rule, with Kachale condemning the party’s violent past and accusing Mutharika of failing to acknowledge or take responsibility for the atrocities committed under his leadership.
Mutharika, on the other hand, flatly denied allegations that DPP had a violent faction, dismissing them as imaginary.
Kachale, who has for years been a fierce critic of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), turned his guns on Mutharika, reminding him of the violent legacy of the so-called Panga Boys, a group of DPP functionaries accused of attacking opposition supporters during his tenure.
“Your father was badly beaten up by the Malawi Young Pioneers and left for dead. You and Bingu suffered exile. The pain you went through is the same pain the relatives of DPP victims endured. Kindly help stop violence by your supporters,” Kachale urged Mutharika.
Mutharika, however, dismissed the claims, insisting that DPP does not have a private army and that the blue-clad youth seen at its rallies are mere entertainers.
“You are wrong because there are no Panga Boys in DPP. You are trying to get MCP off the hook by creating an equivalent imaginary DPP army,” argued Mutharika.
Kachale retaliated, accusing the former President of lying and refusing to acknowledge the violence that marked his rule.
“A lot of people were beaten up, bashed and had their heads hacked with pangas by your party functionaries. Do you remember the family that perished at a filling station in Lilongwe?” Kachale pressed.
Concluding the bitter exchange, Kachale dramatically withdrew his support for Mutharika and DPP, vowing to rally smaller parties to unite against him.
“You have done the country a serious disservice by clinging to DPP leadership by force and by greed. Malawi will be much better off without you and your brutal and selfish leadership. Not again!” declared Kachale.
Political analysts say the public fallout signals deep cracks within the DPP ahead of the 2025 elections.
Dr. Henry Chikumbutso, a governance expert, argues that the exchange reflects a broader discontent among DPP loyalists who feel Mutharika has overstayed his welcome at the helm of the party.
“Kachale’s departure is symptomatic of the internal frustrations within the DPP. There is a growing segment within the party that believes Mutharika is holding it hostage. The fact that a staunch critic of MCP like Kachale has turned against him is very telling,” said Chingaipe.
On his part, political commentator Chrispin Sauzande says Mutharika’s response shows an unwillingness to take responsibility for past political violence, which could further erode his appeal.
“Mutharika had a chance to acknowledge past mistakes and commit to peaceful politics, but instead, he chose denial. This does not bode well for his leadership credibility,” said Sauzande.
He said with party infighting and growing discontent among its key figures, DPP’s internal struggles threaten to weaken its chances in the 2025 elections.