The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has launched a formal complaint against the conduct of President Lazarus Chakwera and the MCP in vote buying and abuse of public funds describing these acts as a serious electoral misconduct.
The DPP says this unethical practice is happening under the guise of presidential outreach, with individuals, particularly youth, chiefs and teachers, being transported in state-owned vehicles to State Residences in Lilongwe, Sanjika (Blantyre), Mzuzu and Chikoko Bay in Mangochi.
The Party says it is evident that these disbursements are a deliberate attempt to manipulate voters during a time of economic hardship, thereby undermining the principles of democratic fairness and electoral integrity.
In a letter dated 17th July, 2025 to the Registrar of Political Parties signed by DPP Secretary General Peter Mukhito, the DPP has claimed that the media, both locally and internationally, including respected sources such as The Nation and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) have reported on these actions and the struggles faced by Malawians.
The DPP has stressed that this distribution of public funds is a direct violation of Section 4 of the Political Parties Act (2018) saying it also amounts to an abuse of public resources and donor aid, urging for immediate action on the issues raised.
The Party has asked the Registrar of Political Parties to conduct an immediate investigation and take regulatory measures to stop all partisan activities occurring at State Houses and to collaborate with the ACB to investigate the source and legality of the K50,000 cash disbursements.
It has also asked the Registrar of Political Parties to issue a public statement to reaffirm his commitment to upholding the Political Parties Act and to discourage any form of vote-buying or electoral fraud and to enforce sanctions against President Chakwera and the MCP by the provisions of the Political Parties Act.
“The DPP firmly believes that the behaviour of the MCP’s presidential candidate, who is being seen distributing handouts during this designated campaign period, is not only against the law but also morally wrong,” reads the formal complaint in part.
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