MCP lodges complaint against DPP
Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has lodged a complaint against the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) accusing it of engaging militant campaign techniques ahead of by-elections in five districts set for tomorrow.
MCP claims DPP followers in Bembeke Ward in Dedza South Constituency on Saturday night went around villages telling the people that an MCP candidate, Wilfred Sangala, had been arrested by police.
MCP director of elections Maxwell Thyolera said after the unpleasant incident the district committee reported the matter to police Sunday morning where they were advised to lodge an official complainant with Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).
Said Thyolera: “An official complainant has been presented to MEC and right now we are just waiting to hear from them on what action they will take.”
He said MCP was worried with DPP smear campaign of spreading lies about their candidate which he said had spoiled his personal character ahead of the polling day. But in an interview yesterday, DPP secretary general Eclain Kudontoni said he was not aware of the incident and described the purported claims as cheap propaganda.
“That is cheap propaganda, what I know is that our party members were only pursuing the electorates to vote for our candidate as campaign period came to a close,” he said.
But MEC acting spokesperson Richard Mveriwa said yesterday his office had not yet received any complaint from the party regarding the incident.
“Perhaps it is yet to reach us, but as MEC we don’t promote hate speeches at any point more so during campaign period. We want aspirants always to go for issue-based campaign,” said Mveriwa.
Besides Bembeke Ward, MEC is also scheduled to hold byelections for ward councillors in Sadzi Ward in Zomba, Kaliyeka in Lilongwe, Bunda in Kasungu and Mchinji West Constituency for member of Parliament. However, official campaign period closed at 6am yesterday.
