APM warns against violence
President Peter Mutharika has warned people perpetrating violence in the country, saying time will come when they will be answerable for the matter.
Mutharika sounded the warning yesterday when he presided over the launch of the 2019/20 National Forestry Season at Nkando in Mulanje.
In a speech monitored on taxpayer-funded Malawi Broadcasting Corporation Television, the President observed that demonstrations, mainly organised and led by Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) to force Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah to resign for allegedly mismanaging the 2019 Tripartite Elections, have often turned violent, creating an atmosphere of lawlessness and anarchy in the country.
the launch yesterday
Said Mutharika: “It is very pathetic that some people are indulging in demonstrations, violence and destruction which have created an atmosphere of lawlessness and anarchy. On Sunday, some people torched a police station in Kasungu.
“All this is happening because some irresponsible opposition people who lost in the elections are creating anarchy in this country and they better stop. I will not allow them to turn this country into a jungle. Whoever is breaking the law will one day answer for it. I promise that.”
He asked Malawians to love each other and stop hatred to ensure that there is peace in the country as the world celebrates Christmas.
On the National Forestry Season, Mutharika said government has set aside K5 billion for this year’s tree planting exercise. He urged Malawians to plant more trees and preserve the country’s forests, describing them as “crucial for human beings”.
Earlier, Minster of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Bintony Kutsaira said government is planning to plant 62 million trees during the 2019/20 National Forestry Season.
Speaking earlier, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regional governor (South) Charles Mchacha said the party respects the courts and the country’s laws; hence, will continue maintaining peace. The trees are expected to be planted on 120 hectares (ha), comprising 30ha covering community forests and 90ha in plantation forests.
