Dirty game: Death threats, violence pop up in FAM election campaign
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) elections campaign appears to be getting dirtier after National Youth Football Committee (NYFC) chairperson Mabvuto Missi, who will vote during the polls in Salima on December 12, claimed to have received death threats on Sunday.
Missi said he received phone call Sunday evening from an unknown individual warning him about a ‘revenge mission’ after some people carrying placards demanding the resignation of incumbent FAM president Walter Nyamilandu were beaten up by unidentified people on the sidelines of Flames versus Tanzania match at Kamuzu Stadium.
The placard read: “Walter Achoke. Nthawi yako yatha vomeleza. President wa tsankho. Tikufuna tione zina. Ndiwe wadyela. No more Walter…”
Missi claimed he is being targeted because he is one of the leaders of FAM affiliates that pressurised Nyamilandu to stand for a fourth term.
He added that the call coincided with an incident earlier on the same day at the stadium, where he suddenly learnt bolts and nuts on front tyres of his vehicle had been loosened up by unknown people.
“I was about to go to bed in the evening when I got a call from an individual on 0999 211 060 saying they will deal with me for ‘sending’ thugs to beat them at the stadium. He swore to me even if I told him I had nothing to do with the incident. I fear for my life and I am reporting the matter to police,” Missi said.
He argued that as a bona fide Malawian he respects the rights of people and he “has no powers to stop anybody from expressing their view and opinion during this campaign period. In the same vein, nobody has rights to intimidate others without gathering evidence. Dirty politics will not take us anywhere.”
When called on Monday, the owner of the phone number, Patrick Chinyanga Juma admitted making the call, but said he did not make any threats and can ably defend himself in the court of law.
When asked if he had evidence that it was indeed Missi who sent the ‘thugs’ to beat them at the stadium, Juma said he heard it from one of the people during the attack. He also claimed that Missi has been his long-time friend and he knows him.
Juma, who claimed to be one of the injured individuals during the fracas, dismissed reports they were hired by one of the presidential aspirants to display the placards, but it came from within themselves to express their feelings as “soccer loving guys”.
“If indeed Missi was getting death threats from me, he could have immediately, reported the matter to police. Why has he delayed to do that with such a serious allegation but rushed to the media. Guilty conscience has gripped him and he is trying to save his face. He knows the truth,” he said.
On why he and his friends have not reported their beating to police, Juma said they are first making arrangements to get a doctor’s report before taking the matter to police. : Death threats, violence pop up in FAM election campaign
SOLOMON MANDA
Staff Reporter
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) elections campaign appears to be getting dirtier after National Youth Football Committee (NYFC) chairperson Mabvuto Missi, who will vote during the polls in Salima on December 12, claimed to have received death threats on Sunday.
Missi said he received phone call Sunday evening from an unknown individual warning him about a ‘revenge mission’ after some people carrying placards demanding the resignation of incumbent FAM president Walter Nyamilandu were beaten up by unidentified people on the sidelines of Flames versus Tanzania match at Kamuzu Stadium.
The placard read: “Walter Achoke. Nthawi yako yatha vomeleza. President wa tsankho. Tikufuna tione zina. Ndiwe wadyela. No more Walter…”
Missi claimed he is being targeted because he is one of the leaders of FAM affiliates that pressurised Nyamilandu to stand for a fourth term.
He added that the call coincided with an incident earlier on the same day at the stadium, where he suddenly learnt bolts and nuts on front tyres of his vehicle had been loosened up by unknown people.
“I was about to go to bed in the evening when I got a call from an individual on 0999 211 060 saying they will deal with me for ‘sending’ thugs to beat them at the stadium. He swore to me even if I told him I had nothing to do with the incident. I fear for my life and I am reporting the matter to police,” Missi said.
He argued that as a bona fide Malawian he respects the rights of people and he “has no powers to stop anybody from expressing their view and opinion during this campaign period. In the same vein, nobody has rights to intimidate others without gathering evidence. Dirty politics will not take us anywhere.”
When called on Monday, the owner of the phone number, Patrick Chinyanga Juma admitted making the call, but said he did not make any threats and can ably defend himself in the court of law.
When asked if he had evidence that it was indeed Missi who sent the ‘thugs’ to beat them at the stadium, Juma said he heard it from one of the people during the attack. He also claimed that Missi has been his long-time friend and he knows him.
Juma, who claimed to be one of the injured individuals during the fracas, dismissed reports they were hired by one of the presidential aspirants to display the placards, but it came from within themselves to express their feelings as “soccer loving guys”.
“If indeed Missi was getting death threats from me, he could have immediately, reported the matter to police. Why has he delayed to do that with such a serious allegation but rushed to the media. Guilty conscience has gripped him and he is trying to save his face. He knows the truth,” he said.
On why he and his friends have not reported their beating to police, Juma said they are first making arrangements to get a doctor’s report before taking the matter to police.
