Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Secretary General and Minister of Homeland Security Peter Mukhito has warned party members against attending church and prayer gatherings attended by Vice President Dr. Jane Ansah without prior approval from the party.
Mukhito reportedly told party representatives that members should not participate in gatherings being used by individuals to undermine or circumvent the party’s established leadership structures.
He made the remarks in Blantyre where DPP party members for the southern region are meeting for the post elections postmortem.
Mukhito has emphasised that the DPP has only one recognised leader who is President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika and urged party members to respect the party hierarchy and promote unity.
“There are some people moving around in the name of prayer and attending churches. Do not go there if the party has not approved the visit,” Mukhito said.
He further urged party representatives to concentrate on strengthening unity among DPP members in their respective areas rather than participating in activities that could deepen divisions within the party.
Mukhito’s remarks come amid growing attention to Vice President Jane Ansah’s public appearances at church and prayer gatherings.
Apart from Mukhito , the function was attended by Vice President for the South and Minister of Finance Joseph Mwanamveka and regional governor Charles Mchacha.
Ansah has in recent months attended a number of faith-based events in her capacity as Vice President. In July, she addressed a gathering at RFP Ministries, where she called on the Church to play a leading role in Malawi’s spiritual and social renewal.
She has also previously attended major church events, including the 30th anniversary celebrations of Soche CCAP in Blantyre, where she spoke about prayer, faith and national unity.
The Vice President has maintained that she remains loyal to the DPP.
In May, Ansah dismissed reports that she intended to leave the party or establish a new political organisation, declaring that she was “DPP to the core.”
Mukhito’s latest warning is therefore likely to fuel further discussion over the relationship between Ansah’s public engagements and the DPP’s internal political structures, particularly at a time when questions about unity and succession within the governing party are attracting increasing attention.
Vice President Jane Ansah has been sidelined by the party for months and she was not invited to a recent cabinet meeting.
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