# Democratic Progressive Party (Malawi)

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is a political party in Malawi. The party was formed in February 2005 by Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika after a dispute with the United Democratic Front (UDF), which was led by his predecessor, Bakili Muluzi.

## History

The DPP party is an offshoot of the United Democratic Front. The UDF was formed by Bingu wa Mutharika and Bakili Muluzi and came to power in 1994 under Muluzi. After Muluzi's two terms were over, Mutharika succeeded him as head of the party and nation. However, Muluzi remained involved in running the party; therefore Mutharika formed his own party, the Democratic Progressive Party, in early 2005. Many UDF members defected to the new DPP party. The party and Mutharika won elections in 2009, and continued to rule the country.

## Internal politics

In October 2008, the DPP's national governing council unanimously chose Mutharika as the party's candidate for the May 2009 presidential election.

### Rise of the PP

Bingu wa Mutharika increasingly became controlling in the party. He began to groom his brother, Peter Mutharika, to be his successor. This led to a situation where he began to sideline his vice-president Joyce Banda due to her refusal to accept the move. Mutharika then kicked her out of the party. Therefore, the courts held that she was still the vice-president of the country even though she was not the vice-president of the party. Subsequently, Joyce Banda formed the People's Party. When Mutharika died in April 2012, Banda was still the vice-president and thus succeeded Mutharika as president, leaving the DPP under Peter Mutharika in opposition.

### 1 August 2011 DPP politburo

On 1 August 2011, Bingu wa Mutharika shuffled the leadership of the DPP. Bintony Kutsaira, who was secretary general of the party, was moved to the Office of the President and Cabinet and replaced by Wakuda Kamanga. Former finance minister Goodall Gondwe was named first vice-president, replacing Joyce Banda who was dismissed from the party in December 2010 for "anti-party activities". Following the death of President Mutharika, who was also party leader, the National Governing Council of the Party chose Peter Mutharika as the new Party President on 6 April 2012.
The new DPP politburo after the shuffle:
| Office | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| President | Peter Mutharika | | |
| Vice-president | Goodall Edward Gondwe | Yunus Mussa | Jean Kalilani |
| Secretary General | Jean Kalilani | | |
| Deputy Secretary General | Isaac Nyakamera | Etta Banda | Ralph Jooma |
| Treasurer General | Sidik Mia | Bessie Chirambo | Leckford Thotho |
| National Organising Secretary | Francis Mphepo | Catherine Hara | John Zingale |
| National Campaign Director | Ken Zikhale Ng'oma | Rashy Gaffar | Alice Lungu |
Regional Governors:
* North: Ancient Nkhata
* Centre: Kalanzi Mbewe
* East: Yusuf Yusweja
* South: Noel Masangwi

## DPP presidents

* Peter Mutharika 2014–2020
* Bingu wa Mutharika 2004–2012

## DPP members

* Etta Banda
* Goodall Gondwe
* Catherine Hara
* Yunus Mussa
* Peter Mukhito
* Bingu wa Mutharika
* Uladi Mussa
* Kondwani Nakhumwa
* Yusuf Jonas

## Electoral history
### Presidential elections

| Election | Party Candidate | Votes | % | Result |
| 2009 | Bingu wa Mutharika | 2,963,820 | 66.17% | Elected Y |
| 2014 | Peter Mutharika | 1,904,399 | 36.4% | Elected Y |
| 2019 | Peter Mutharika | 1,940,709 | 38.57% | Election Annulled N |
| 2020 | Peter Mutharika | 1,951,877 | 39.92% | Lost N |

### National Assembly elections

| Election | Party leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position |
| 2009 | Bingu wa Mutharika | 1,739,202 | 39.99% | 114 / 193 | 114 | 1st |
| 2014 | Peter Mutharika | 1,133,402 | 21.98% | 51 / 193 | 63 | 1st |
| 2019 | Peter Mutharika | 1,293,797 | 26.04% | 62 / 193 | 11 | 1st |
All above results come from election reports on the Malawi Electoral Commission website.