By Rick Dzida
The pairing of Peter Mutharika and Jane Ansah as the President and first Vice President of Malawi is distinctive due to the fact that numerous Malawians participated in violent protests against them in 2020.
During his first term in office, President Mutharika faced pressure to relinquish his position due to the struggling economy and widespread corruption. Similarly, Jane Ansah was coerced to resign as the Chairperson of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) due to accusations of mismanaging the 2019 presidential election.
Due to their desperation, the very same Malawians who had called for justice against the perceived unjust actions of Mutharika and Ansah, ultimately placed their trust in them once again by electing them into office during the presidential election in September 2025..
In fact, several DPP gurus who had hoped to become APM’s running mate felt excluded and disregarded upon discovering that Jane Ansah had been selected as Mutharika’s running mate.
Similar to Atupele Muluzi during the 2020 presidential election, Jane Ansah was observed carrying out political campaigning leading up to the September 2025 Presidential election without the backing of certain DPP leaders.
Fortunately, in 2025, both Peter Mutharika and Jane Ansah were victorious in the Presidential election, winning by a large margin and surpassing former President Lazarus Chakwera.
With their shared occupation in the legal field and Jane Ansah’s reputation as a devout and humble individual, there was much hope among Malawians for a harmonious relationship between Peter Mutharika and his vice president, Jane Ansah.
Regrettably, only three months after gaining power, signs of tension between Ansah and Mutharika began to surface.
First, President Mutharika and government spokesperson Shadreck Namalomba provided contradictory statements regarding the funding source for Jane Ansah’s private trip to Nottingham, UK.
Second, during her visit in the UK, President Mutharika removed Jane Ansah from two important positions. She was no longer responsible for overseeing the disaster management department and the public service reform sector.
Third, President Mutharika discreetly ceased assigning any tasks to his Vice President, Jane Ansah.
Indeed, Jane Ansah is typically seen in public fulfilling her duties as a pastor or participating in events as a woman. She may also be invited by a responsible public official to attend and support a public event.
Fourth, there are claims that the Mutharika government is pressuring Jane Ansah to step down from her position as vice president.
This speculation poses a potential risk in the political realm as it conveys a sense of hopelessness regarding APM’s ability to successfully complete his second term.
Of course, there has been a growing number of Malawians who are beginning to doubt the effectiveness of APM’s decision-making methodology.
For instance, a large number of individuals are perplexed by the decision of President Peter Mutharika to grant clemency to those convicted of murder in the Lule Buleya case, which involved the killing of albinos. These perpetrators were released from prison after serving less than a year, despite being sentenced to 15 years. Does this seem just?
Fifth, reports show that the security of the Vice President has been reduced, despite ongoing security issues such as the presence of illicit weapons and abductions. This information was shared by Dedza’s Member of Parliament, Joshua Malango.
In conclusion, although the first vice president has faced severe mistreatment, according to the Malawi Constitution, Jane Ansah is required to assume the leadership in the event of a vacant presidency due to various circumstances. Therefore, the office of the vice president should always be honored and valued.
