Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) president Peter Mutharika on Wednesday had a closed-door meeting with his Alliance for Democracy (Aford) counterpart Enoch Chihana, The Daily Times has learned.
We have further gathered that the meeting took place at the former State president’s abode, namely Page House in Mangochi District.
Mutharika and Chihana separately confirmed the development.
They have, however, kept issues they discussed under wraps.
Mutharika’s spokesperson Shadric Namalomba said nothing “big” was discussed.
“It was a social meeting,” Namalomba said.
Chihana also refused to disclose issues they discussed.
He was quick to say “we had a good moment”.
“It’s true that my wife and I went to Page House and met with the former head of State.
“However, I don’t think whatever we discussed is for public consumption,” Chihana said.
Meanwhile, political analyst George Chaima has said people could not rule out the possibility of the two leaders discussing political issues, especially as Malawi gears up for the September 16 2025 Local Government, Parliamentary and Presidential Elections.
In the June 23 2020 court-ordered presidential election, Aford was part of the Tonse Alliance, which had in tow the Malawi Congress Party, UTM, People’s Party, People’s Transformation Party, Umodzi Party, Malawi Forum for Unity and Development, Freedom Party, among others.
The parties’ torchbearer was Lazarus Chakwera, with former vice president Saulos Chilima (now deceased) as running mate.
On the other hand, DPP sided with the United Democratic Front, whose ticket had Mutharika as torchbearer and Atupele Muluzi as running mate.
Chaima said it was possible that Mutharika and Chihana discussed the issue of how to boot Chakwera out of the State House in forthcoming elections.
He said Mutharika’s meetings with representatives of other parties would likely continue.
“This time, parties are strategising on how they can be voted into power while the Malawi Congress Party wants to remain in power.
“They [Mutharika and Chihana] might choose to keep what they discussed confidential but the fact is that the DPP and Aford started working together a long time ago. So, it is good to start working on possible alliances now because time is flying and Malawians need to be guided on who to vote for, in case the alliances are done,” Chaima said.
In September this year, Chihana hosted a DPP national executive committee members’ dinner at his residence in Mzuzu City in the Northern Region.
This happened soon after Mutharika held his first rally in the region since June 23 2020, when he was booted out of power.
Aford members have been spotted at some DPP gatherings, especially in the Northern Region.
According to the Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec), about seven million people have registered to vote in next year’s general elections.
However, Mec Chairperson, Judge Annabel Mtalimanja, recently indicated that the commission would retake the first phase of voter registration after High Court Judge Mandala Mambulasa ruled that National Registration Bureau officers stationed at voter registration centres should be offering both national identity card verification and citizen registration services.
The ruling was made long after voter registration, under the first phase, had started.
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