The office of State Vice President Jane Ansah has suffered another setback as the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) continues to make structural and financial adjustments affecting the office.
Following earlier decisions to remove the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) from the Vice President’s office and shift public sector reforms to the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), the latest move has seen a reduction in the office’s budget allocation.
Parliament has approved a K6.81 billion allocation for the Office of the Vice President under the 2026/27 recurrent budget. However, concerns have been raised that this reduced funding could significantly limit the office’s effectiveness, barely six months into the administration.
Member of Parliament for Dedza Kasina, Joshua Malango, questioned the decision, warning that it could negatively affect key functions, including the office’s responsiveness.
In response, Finance Minister Joseph Mwanamvekha explained that the reduction stems from the transfer of certain responsibilities—particularly public sector reforms—to the OPC.
Observers note that Joseph Mwanamvekha is increasingly becoming a central figure within the DPP and is widely seen as a potential successor to President Peter Mutharika when his mandate comes to an end.
Critics argue that this development reflects a pattern within the DPP, suggesting the party may not have fully learned from past internal conflicts particularly its fallout with the late Vice President Saulos Chilima.
Chilima later joined the Tonse Alliance, which ultimately defeated the DPP in the 2020 elections.
Meanwhile, tensions within the DPP’s alliance with Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) appear to be escalating. The recent Rumphi election exposed growing cracks in the partnership, raising concerns about the alliance’s stability moving forward.
Overall, the developments signal a potentially challenging political landscape ahead for the DPP, as internal dynamics and alliance relationships continue to evolve.
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