In Malawi, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) returned to power following the general election on September 16, 2025.
While the party’s term is in its early months, critics and observers have identified several ” false ” or highly unrealistic promises based on its 2025-2030 Manifesto and its previous governing record (2014–2020).
- Unrealistic Financial Pledges
The DPP’s 2025 manifesto includes several high-cost promises that economists have labeled as ” fantasies ” due to Malawi’s current debt crisis:
K5 Billion Constituency Grant :
The DPP promised to allocate K5 billion annually to each of Malawi’s 229 constituencies.
Financial experts noted this would total over K1 trillion a year, roughly a good chunk of the national budget, making it economically unfeasible.
Housing for Every Civil Servant:
A campaign pledge to provide a house to every civil servant has been described by analysts as ” laughable ” and ” out of touch ” given the massive size of the civil service.
- Contradicted Governance Reforms
Despite campaigning on a platform of “Restoration” and the rule of law, early actions by the new administration have contradicted these promises:
Institutional Independence:
After promising to respect state institutions, the DPP administration launched a sweeping overhaul of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) within weeks of taking power.
This included the controversial suspension of the heads of the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and MACRA, which critics viewed as a move toward political intimidation rather than reform.
Politicization of Security:
The administration attempted to “civilianize” senior military and police leadership by redeploying ten generals and commissioners to civilian roles.
This move was halted by a court injunction, with experts warning it threatened to politicize the security sector.
3. Historical Failures
(Broken Promises from 2014-2020)
Opposition and civil society groups frequently cite unfulfilled promises from the DPP’s previous tenure as evidence of a pattern of “false promises”:
Infrastructure Projects:
Major projects such as the Nsanje Inland Port, the Mombera University, and a marine university in Mangochi remained unfulfilled or stalled despite repeated campaign pledges.
Anti-Corruption :
While the DPP repeatedly promised to end corruption, its previous administration was marred by scandals where party leaders reportedly amassed unexplained wealth while in office.
Job Creation:
The promise of large-scale job creation for youth was largely unmet, with unemployment rising significantly during the party’s previous years in power.
- Immediate Economic Realities
While the DPP promised ” proven leadership ” that would immediately stabilize the economy, the first few months of 2025 have seen a continuation of high inflation and fiscal stress.
Critics argue that the party’s focus on “retaliation” and purging officials has taken priority over the economic recovery it promised during the campaign.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are those of the author not necessarily of The Maravi Post or Editor
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