In a politically charged statement, UDF running mate Prophet Kalolo has reignited the age-old debate over Malawi’s governance trajectory, warning voters against the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). His message is stark: DPP, he claims, brought untold misery to Malawians and remains a latent threat, even hinting at ethnic targeting against the Chewa tribe.
Kalolo
Yet, Kalolo stops short of endorsing the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), carefully balancing his critique with a disclaimer that there is no formal electoral alliance between UDF and MCP.
While Kalolo speaks today, his words could easily have been channelled by Saulos Chilima, had he been alive, given the late vice-president’s deft political positioning and strategic acumen.
Historical Context: Why DPP Is Easy to Critique
Malawians’ collective memory of DPP’s governance failures remains fresh. Fuel and electricity shortages, corruption scandals like “Maizegate,” and a perception of unaccountable leadership all underpin Kalolo’s warnings. DPP’s removal in the 2020 elections was not just a political transition; it was a public repudiation of a party widely perceived as having failed the nation.
By invoking this history, Kalolo reminds voters of the tangible consequences of DPP rule. This is exactly the kind of context Chilima used during his Tonse Alliance campaign—focusing on the lived realities of Malawians under DPP, from rising poverty and unemployment to institutional decay, without turning his rhetoric into personal attacks or tribalist discourse.
Ethnic Politics: A Subtle but Powerful Warning
Kalolo’s mention of DPP’s alleged statements about the Chewa tribe is not idle rhetoric. Malawi’s politics has long been sensitive to ethnic dynamics, and such statements carry weight. It positions DPP not merely as a mismanaged party but as a potential threat to national cohesion.
Chilima understood this nuance well. He never needed to explicitly invoke ethnic fears; he highlighted policies, governance failures, and systemic injustices. The effect was the same: voters intuitively understood which party represented danger and which represented a chance for stability.
Strategic Positioning: Decampaigning Without Endorsement
Kalolo’s rhetoric demonstrates a careful political calculus:
Reject DPP publicly while maintaining UDF’s distinct identity.
Signal alignment with MCP principles without formal coalition, leaving room for negotiation.
Appeal to broad anti-DPP sentiment, especially among voters who recall past hardships.
This is classic Chilima. Throughout his career, Chilima was a master at criticizing DPP without overtly endorsing MCP, allowing him to retain independent credibility while subtly shaping voter perception. By highlighting past governance failures, Chilima could decampaign the ruling party effectively, nudging voters toward the coalition’s vision without alienating his supporters.
Lessons for Malawi’s 2025 Election
Kalolo’s statements underscore a key lesson for any political strategist in Malawi: the most effective anti-DPP messaging is principled, issue-driven, and subtly suggestive. Explicit endorsements are not always necessary; the public can read between the lines. Chilima knew this instinctively, and his absence leaves a strategic void that Kalolo appears to be filling—albeit from a different platform.
In essence, Kalolo has mapped a path that Chilima could have trodden effortlessly: expose DPP’s failures, hint at its dangers, and let voters draw conclusions. This approach preserves party independence, appeals to anti-incumbent sentiment, and avoids overt tribal or partisan backlash—an elegant and effective strategy in Malawi’s complex political landscape.
Bottom line: Prophet Kalolo’s rhetoric is not just a critique of DPP; it is a political blueprint. Had Saulos Chilima been alive, he could have deployed the same strategy—decampaigning DPP without explicit endorsements, leveraging history, governance failures, and subtle messaging to sway voter sentiment. For Malawi’s electorate, the message is clear: DPP represents regression, and principled alternatives exist, even if their champions stop short of saying so outright.
