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Ntcheu has produced three Vice Presidents under the DPP leadership of President Arthur Peter Mutharika:
- The late Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima
- Everton Chimulirenji
- The incumbent Vice President, Dr. Jane Mayemu Ansah
This is not a coincidence. It reflects the political significance of Ntcheu and the wider influence of the Ngoni community, which is spread across Malawi and remains an important force in shaping the country’s political landscape.
President Mutharika is serving his final term. That makes the political calculations within the DPP even more critical.
The 2025 election victory did not happen in a vacuum. Several factors worked in the DPP’s favour.
- The Chilima factor
Many Malawians believed the MCP had questions to answer over the death of Dr. Saulos Chilima and wanted justice, transparency and accountability.
If the parliamentary inquiry into Chilima’s death eventually clears MCP of the allegations and provides convincing answers on the circumstances surrounding his death, the political landscape could change significantly.
The Chilima issue can no longer simply be used as political mileage. If the inquiry establishes a clear picture of what happened, both the MCP and DPP will have to deal with the political consequences and that could complicate the DPP’s current advantage.
MCP will come guns blazing as angels . We told you , we never killed him and they will capitalize that to their advantage. That will change everything.
- The Better devil on MCP and DPP comparison
Chakwera and MCP were viewed by many Malawians as having presided over five years characterised by corruption allegations, poor governance and incompetence.
But barely one year into the DPP administration, allegations of corruption, abuse of power and questionable dealings are already creating a similar and in some cases even more serious public perception. Malawians believed DPP was a better devil than MCP but barely a year in power . The perception is changing .
If the DPP does not slow down and correct course, MCP could gradually become the better devil in the eyes of voters.
That is a dangerous position for a government that has just won an election.
- The Jane Ansah factor
President Mutharika’s choice of Justice Jane Mayemu Ansah as his running mate was politically significant.
She came into the partnership with integrity, experience, command and respect across different sections of society.
For many Malawians, the APM–Ansah ticket represented the possibility that the country could be placed in safe and responsible hands.
That political capital should not be underestimated.
So, who benefits from sidelining the Vice President barely one year into government?
Anyone who believes the DPP is doing itself a favour by politically marginalising its own Vice President is not thinking strategically.
Read this again. And then read it again.
The decisions being made today are not just about the present. They could determine the political strength, internal cohesion and electoral prospects of the DPP heading into 2030.
The DPP needs the Eastern Region and, more broadly, the political goodwill of communities with significant influence across the country if it hopes to remain electorally competitive in the next election.
Political power is not permanent.
The same voters who give you power today can take it away tomorrow.
Malawians are watching.
And if the DPP does not put its house in order now, manage its internal politics carefully and avoid alienating the very constituencies that helped deliver its victory, the road to 2030 could become far more difficult than many within the party currently realise.
The warning signs are already there.
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