In Malawi’s political playbook, few rituals have become as predictable and as costly as the scramble to elevate traditional leaders. The logic behind it is an old political myth—honour the chief, capture the subjects. But after decades of political experiments by Malawi Congress Party (MCP), the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and People’s Party, that myth is crumbling. The evidence is unmistakable. Votes do not follow titles.
Yet, the political appetite for these promotions not only persists, it intensifies as elections draw near.
With just weeks before the polls, the MCP-led government reshaped the chieftaincy landscape in Salima District. Traditional authorities (TA) Maganga, Chisamba and Salima were all elevated to senior chiefs. Senior Group Kanzimbe became a Sub–TA while a jurisdiction under TA Kambalame was instituted. The ceremonies were grand, the symbolism heavy, and the political intent obvious. But, few weeks later, when the ballot boxes opened, the storyline took a familiar turn. MCP lost Salima to DPP. A sharp reminder that traditional authority does not automatically translate into political loyalty.
The DPP had learned this lesson earlier. In February 2020, just four months before the fresh elections, it made similar manoeuvres in Rumphi. Yet when Malawians voted, Rumphi swung to the MCP-led Tonse Alliance. The strategy failed spectacularly.
Notably, these are not isolated blunders. They form part of a protracted pattern of political miscalculations. Since independence, political parties in Malawi have engaged in waves of chief elevations fooled as one sure way of political support consolidation. Different administrations, same tactic, same results but voters refuse to be herded by titles.
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This raises the unavoidable question: If it does not work, why do politicians keep doing it?
The answer lies partly in political nostalgia. Traditional leaders were once viewed as custodians of community loyalty, their influence near-absolute. But modern Malawi has evolved.
As recent elections have shown, voters today are more independent, more informed and more resistant to political patronage than before. Communities now see clearly that a chief’s elevation does little to solve their real problems of poor healthcare, crumbling schools, failing agriculture or unemployment.
However, what these elevations do bring is rising public expenditure.
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Every promotion comes with a lavish ceremony funded by taxpayers. Elevated chiefs become entitled to higher honoraria, increased allowances, government-funded medical care, State-funded funerals and, sometimes, official vehicles.
Traditional leaders from the cadre of TA join the political arm of district councils, resulting in swelled membership and stretching council budgets further with transport, allowances and logistics. For a government already struggling to fund essential public services, the financial burden is immense.
But here lies the irony. While the political benefits of these elevations have diminished, their economic cost continues to escalate.
In the end, politically motivated chief promotions neither strengthen democracy nor improve development. Instead, they drain limited public resources while offering nothing to the citizens whose lives desperately need meaningful change.
And, so, as the new Minister of Local Government begins engaging with traditional leaders, a pivotal question confronts the DPP administration: Will it continue pursuing a strategy that voters have repeatedly rejected, or will it finally learn the lesson history has so clearly taught?
