The recent rise in political intimidation in Malawi, exemplified by the case of Maria Mainja, is a stark warning about the state of the country’s democracy. Mainja, the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Director of Women for the southern region, has come under threat following her outspoken criticism of the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP). After delivering a speech at a Phalombe rally denouncing the MCP’s governance, Mainja now faces death threats allegedly from members of the ruling party, including two senior cabinet ministers. This development highlights the shrinking space for dissent in Malawi and the increasing use of intimidation as a political tool.