Meet Maria Ndasowa Mainja who defied all odds to champion for Mutharika’s return
Published on October 5, 2025 at 4:15 PM by Robert Ngwira
It all started like a joke when some top officials in the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) pushed for the return of the newly sworn-in President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika three years ago.
The move faced strong resistance within the party resulting into cracks as others proposed for the new blood to take over leadership.
The move to have new blood was championed by former DPP Secretary General Grezelder Jeffrey who was later fired from the party together with former Minister of Agriculture Kondwani Nankhumwa and 8 others.
Maria Ndasowa Mainja, DPP Director of women for the South was among the top officials who believed and passionately campaigned vigorously for Mutharika.
As the move gained momentum, rumours were all over social media claiming that the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is planning to arrest Mutharika following a directive from above.
This did not go down well with Mainja who threatened to mobilize women across the country to conduct nudity demonstrations.
“Akadzango yesa kumumanga Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, kapena Mathyola Mwanamveka ife Azimai tidzavula maliseche kukalowa mu mpanda,” Mainja was quoted as saying during one of the interviews with one of the local media houses in Malawi.
Throughout the campaign trail, Mainja was all over the country selling the DPP and its torchbearer Professor Peter Mutharika and on the other hand spelling out unfulfilled campaign promises of Chakwera like cheap fertilizer, three meals per day and others.
Mainja went on to advice Chakwera to start preparing his way out of State House.
Speaking in an interview with faceofmalawi after the sworn-in of Mutharika, Mainja while admitting that the campaign trail was not easy she said that she believed in Mutharika’s vision.
“To be honest with you I was among the first people to push for the return of Mutharika. All this was driven by the belief that I have for Mutharika and his vision for this country.
“The campaign trail was not all that rosy. I received threats from Malawi Congress Party (MCP) top officials as well as Cabinet Ministers but that did not distract me from campaigning for Mutharika and here we are now. Malawians are free, the oppressor is gone,” said Mainja.
She added: “The campaign period is over now and it’s time for us all to join hands in supporting Mutharika in rebuilding the country’s economy which is in shambles. We don’t have drugs in public hospitals, no fuel, no forex and no maize in ADMARC.”
Maria Mainja is a daughter to former Minister of Education Olive Masanza.
She is a mother of two Children and she hails from Limbuli, Mulanje.
