“No more tissue alliances”: Mwalubunju warns politicians ahead of September polls

Governance expert and concern citizen Ollen Mwalubunju has cautioned political parties against entering into alliances without conducting due diligence, observing that previous political marriages did not serve the interests of ordinary Malawians.

Mwalubunju decried the tendency by politicians to deviate from their power-sharing agreements, leading to frictions between the Heads of State and their Second in Command.

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He made the sentiments in a statement titled “Malawi’s Political Leaders Must Break the Cycle of Alliance Betrayal Ahead of September Elections”.

Mwalubunju, who is highly credited for steering to successful establishment of the National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Public Trust for years, emphasized the need for political alliances to be publicly documented and disclosed; commit to post-election accountability; avoid exploitative partnerships driven by greed; monitored by civil society and media, and most importantly, built on mutual respect, not manipulation.

“As presidential candidates submit nomination papers for Malawi’s September 16 General Elections, political parties are being urged to form honest, transparent, and practical alliances that reflect the will of the people and uphold democratic integrity. The 2019 presidential elections that was nullified, led to the formation of the Tonse Alliance during the 2020 fresh elections. While the alliance succeeded in uniting opposition forces around a presidential candidate, its failure to honor power-sharing agreements has left a legacy of mistrust and political tension. The majority party in the alliance violated the power-sharing agreement. What followed was tension, mistrust, and national disillusionment — a betrayal that still stings,” he said.

“Let the Tonse Alliance be a lesson that they must be built on trust, not convenience. Malawians deserve leaders who treat partners with respect—not like disposable tissue. Malawians are tired of being used — and so are the smaller parties. The political culture of using allies like toilet tissue — useful only until power is secured. So, if leaders cannot honor their own agreements, how can they be trusted to manage public resources, or uphold the Constitution?

“This election is not just about winning — it’s about governing with integrity. Let the Tonse Alliance be a warning, not a blueprint. Let betrayal be replaced with accountability, and let alliances be forged not in desperation, but in vision and values. This time, let alliances be built on vision, values, and verifiable commitments. Let betrayal be replaced with integrity. Let greed give way to service. And let Malawians hold every leader accountable — not just at the ballot box, but every day they sit in office,” concluded Mwalubunju.