“Ansah has no political capital in our rural bases. For many in the DPP, her appointment reopens old wounds and further undermines the party’s already shaky grassroots loyalty. The Rise of Odya ZakeMichael Usi—an actor-turned-politician and former minister—is being seen by many as the true heir to the Lhomwe political legacy. “He speaks the language of the people—literally and politically.”Efforts to get a response from Usi on the reported wave of support from DPP officials proved unsuccessful. For now, all roads—from Thyolo to Phalombe—appear to be leading toward Michael Usi.