By Wadza Botomani
Peter Mutharika’s decision to name Jane Ansah as his running mate for the forthcoming elections—confirmed today with the submission of nomination papers at BICC—is a grave miscalculation. From her tainted legacy as the architect of Malawi’s infamous “Tippex election” to her divisive role within the DPP, Ansah symbolizes everything wrong with the party’s refusal to reform.
A Legacy of Electoral Fraud
Ansah’s tenure as Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson was marred by brazen irregularities, including the widespread use of Tippex to alter vote tallies in the 2019 polls. Despite her claims of a “free and fair” election, courts annulled the results, citing “widespread incompetence” and “gross negligence” under her watch . Her appointment now is a slap in the face to Malawians who demanded accountability—and a gift to opposition campaigns branding DPP as a party of cheats.
A Branding Disaster for DPP
From a marketing perspective, Ansah’s selection reinforces the DPP’s toxic identity: a party that tried to clinge to power through manipulation rather than merit. Her name is synonymous with electoral fraud, making her an easy target for opponents painting Mutharika’s camp as desperate and out of touch . Even worse, she lacks a grassroots following, failing to galvanize women or youth voters—key demographics in a tight race.
Betrayal of DPP Loyalists
Ansah’s nomination is a direct insult to party loyalists like Everton Chimulirenji, whose primary victory in Ntcheu North was controversially overturned to favor her . This move exposes DPP’s internal rot: a leadership that rewards cronyism over democracy, alienating its own base. Meanwhile, the party’s failure to unite behind a credible successor—like Dalitso Kabambe, who was frustrated by the inner circle of Gertrude Mutharika and Chisale sid—reveals a deeper crisis of vision .
A Losing Strategy
Mutharika’s gamble on Ansah reeks of stagnation. Malawi needs fresh leadership to tackle economic collapse and corruption, yet DPP offers a relic of past failures. With opposition alliances consolidating and public trust in Ansah nonexistent, this ticket is less a revival and more a surrender.
In summary, Jane Ansah is not the answer—not for Malawi, and certainly not for a DPP drowning in its own contradictions.
