People of Mwanza West Constituency have selected Maureen Chitsulo, daughter to former member of parliament (MP) for the area, late Joyce Chitsulo, to represent them in the 16 September general election.
Chitsulo was unveiled as an independent parliamentary candidate on Friday afternoon by traditional leaders and some other local leaders in the area.
Late Joyce Chitsulo who also served as Deputy Minister of Local Government and Unity, died in Lilongwe on June 6 and was laid to rest on 9 June, 2025 in Mwanza district.
Unveiled- Maureen Chitsulo
During the funeral ceremony, Senior Chief Govati of the area told President Lazarus Chakwera and the crowd that gathered that leaders of the area were negotiating with the family of late Chitsulo to have someone from the family to replace her as Member of Parliament.
According to Govati, having someone from the Chitsulo family would ensure continuation of various developmental activities that the former MP was undertaking.
The recent violent attack on Sylvester Namiwa, a pro-democracy activist, has reignited painful memories of Malawi’s dark era under the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). While the DPP now feigns outrage over political violence, Malawians must not forget that this very party perfected the art of state-sponsored terror, especially against dissenters. From Billy Mayaya’s brutal assaults to the arbitrary arrests of Timothy Mtambo, Gift Trapence, and Reverend MacDonald Sembereka, the DPP’s reign was marked by a systematic crackdown on civil liberties. Let us revisit these horrors to ensure the DPP does not rewrite history for political sympathy.
Billy Mayaya: Beaten for Demanding Justice
One of the most harrowing examples of DPP’s brutality was the attack on Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) member Billy Mayaya in Blantyre. In broad daylight, suspected DPP cadets ambushed Mayaya, assaulting him simply for organizing peaceful demonstrations against electoral injustice . The attackers, often shielded by police inaction, operated with impunity, sending a clear message: dissent would be met with violence.
Timothy Mtambo, Trapence, and Sembereka: Arrests and Intimidation
Mayaya was violently attacked by DPP regime
The DPP regime weaponized the law to silence critics. In March 2020, HRDC leaders Timothy Mtambo, Gift Trapence, and Reverend MacDonald Sembereka were arrested on trumped-up charges of “inciting violence” after calling for peaceful protests against electoral fraud . President Peter Mutharika himself labeled HRDC a “terrorist organization,” while DPP officials like Grezeldar Jeffrey openly threatened to “silence” Mtambo violently .
Even before their arrests, Mtambo narrowly escaped death when petrol bombs were hurled into his compound, torching his car—a clear assassination attempt . The DPP’s youth wing, the notorious “cadets,” were frequently deployed to attack opposition figures, journalists, and activists, often in full view of law enforcement .
DPP’s Legacy: A Culture of Fear
The DPP’s reign was defined by: 1. State-Sponsored Violence: Attacks on opposition figures like UTM’s Bon Kalindo, who was left with a broken nose and internal bleeding after a DPP mob assault . 2. Judicial Harassment: Baseless prosecutions of activists, designed to drain their resources and morale . 3. Propaganda and Smears: State media, like Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), amplified death threats against HRDC leaders, further endangering their lives .
Conclusion: DPP Cannot Whitewash Its Crimes
As the DPP opportunistically capitalizes on the Namiwa case to pose as victims, Malawians must remember the truth: this is the party that turned political violence into a strategy. Their cadets brutalized citizens, their leaders incited hate, and their government weaponized institutions to crush dissent. Let us not allow them to rewrite history. The scars of Billy Mayaya, Timothy Mtambo, and countless others remain fresh—a permanent indictment of the DPP’s bloody legacy.
Focused Minds and People Driven Initiative on Friday went gun blazing condemning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for sponsoring the just botched demonstrations which Citizens for Credible elections organized few days ago.
Citizens for Credible elections on Wednesday organized demonstrations calling for the resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Anabel Mtalimanja and MEC Chief Executive Officer Andrew Mpesi.
But business owners security details attacked demonstrators as one way of protecting their businesses.
But speaking during the press conference, FMPDI Chairperson Billy Malata condemned DPP for sponsoring demonstrations.
He said recently , there were leaked audios of some people who were organising the demonstrations. “No one came forward to condemn those activists who openly said will be working with DPP to organize and execute demonstration strategies,” he said.
He said the audios clearly demonstrated that the people in the audios were clearly orchestrating coordinated efforts to cause civil unrest.
By sponsoring demonstrations, Mr Malata said DPP demonstrated disregard of democracy, and rule of Law.
“The recent demonstrations across the country disrupted economic activities and affected businesses that is already struggling to cope with the harsh economic environment we are going through as a country,” he said.
On demands for the President to fire MEC Chairperson Anabel Mtalimanja and Minister of Homeland Security, Ezekiel Peter Ching’oma , the grouping described the call as untimely.
Malata said the call is just aimed at disrupting elections as well as Government business since there is nothing wrong that Hon Ching’oma has done warranting the firing. The grouping also condemned the general public and civil Society for remaining silent when other people like MBC reporters being hacked in Mzuzu.
The Citizens for Credible Elections (CCE) has strongly condemned the violent attack on peaceful protesters in Lilongwe.
The group was demonstrating against Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, calling for her resignation.
Masked assailants attacked the demonstrators, beating CCE’s top organizer, Silvester Namiwa.
The CCE accused the Malawi Police Service (MPS) and Malawi Defence Force (MDF) of standing by idly, allowing the violence to unfold.
CCE spokesperson Edwards Kambanje alleged that police officers deliberately failed to act, watching without intervening as Namiwa was assaulted.
The incident raises concerns about the government’s commitment to upholding democratic principles and protecting citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and protest.
The CCE’s condemnation underscores the importance of accountability and human rights protection in Malawi.
A heartwarming scene unfolded at Msalabani Primary School in Machinga when The Giving UMMAH, a Muslim organization, donated essential items to the students.
The donation, valued at approximately 1.8 million Kwacha, included 50 school uniforms, brooms, caps, brushes, and hygiene items.
The organization’s Director, Ashraf Matandika, explained that the donation is part of their 2025/2026 project aimed at supporting primary schools nationwide.
After conducting research, they identified Msalabani Primary School as one of the institutions requiring assistance.
The students and teachers were visibly touched by the generosity of The Giving UMMAH.
Mphatso Msusa, representing the head teacher, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the donation, which will greatly benefit the learners, especially those who lacked school uniforms.
Aaron Mahmoud, a Standard 7 student, was one of the beneficiaries who received a school uniform.
He was overjoyed, saying that the donation will help him avoid being sent back home for not wearing a school uniform.
The Giving UMMAH’s initiative has sparked a call to action, with the organization urging other entities to join hands in supporting primary schools in need across the country.
