By Wadza Botomani
The governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is facing significant public criticism for its official decision to boycott all presidential election debates. The party has confirmed that its leader, President Peter Mutharika, and his running mate will not participate in any such forums, a move many Malawians perceive as an attempt to evade public scrutiny and accountability.
The party’s position was firmly stated by its spokesman, Shadre Namalomba, in a post on his official Facebook page. He wrote, “Regarding Presidential debates! Kindly note that the DPP’s official position regarding participation in any presidential debates is that WE DONT. Our President and his running mate cannot and will not.” This unequivocal declaration has sparked a strong backlash from a broad cross-section of the populace.
The criticism is not only coming from opposition supporters but also from within the DPP’s own ranks. One apparent party supporter responded directly to Namalomba’s post, writing, “I am a supporter of DPP, I am against your position because it is archaic, undemocratic and cowardly. Voters must be given a chance to hear and evaluate your development agenda with that of other political parties. Muuzane.” This sentiment reflects a growing frustration among voters who see debates as a crucial democratic tool for evaluating candidates and their policies ahead of the polls.
