Two weeks to the September 16 General Election, cases of political violence refuse to die with over five recorded within the past two weeks.
The incidents include one involving Malawi Congress Party (MCP) candidate for Kasungu Central Constituency whose vehicle was damaged in Kasungu on Monday by suspected Alliance for Democracy (Aford) members.
Earlier on Saturday, MCP members were also allegedly attacked in Mtandire, Lilongwe by people suspected to be Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members.
In Machinga, United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate for Machinga East Esther Jolobala was attacked by people suspected to belong to UTM Party while two weeks ago, unknown people attacked MCP members in Kasungu South where Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Simplex Chithyola Banda was launching his campaign. There have also been attacks on UTM Party and DPP by suspected MCP members.
Briefing the media in Lilongwe yesterday, MCP blamed DPP and Aford, saying they are of promoting violence during the campaign to frustrate MCP in the elections.
MCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwila alleged that MCP members are being attacked by what she termed as the Blue Alliance partners on a daily basis.
She said MCP candidate for Kasungu Central Constituency, Chikondi Kampachike Chisale, was attacked by the Blue Alliance members on Monday, adding the incident came after MCP members were also attacked at the weekend at Mtandire in Lilongwe.
“They know that MCP will win the election that is why they are resorting to violence. DPP and Aford, stop the violence it is not going to help you,” said Kabwila.
She asked the police to investigate the Kasungu incident, further claiming that Aford president Enoch Chihana was on the scene when the violence took place.
In an interview, Kampachike Chisale alleged that he was attacked while on his way to the constituency for a bonanza prize presentation ceremony. He claimed that he lost K17 million that was in his vehicle, a phone and other items.
But in a separate interview, DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba distanced his party from the violence, saying the MCP was staging the violence to seek public sympathy.
“When they say they will win, where they get the votes? They have failed to run government and they know people are angry, people don’t want see them back in government,” he said.
However, Aford spokesperson Annie Amatullah Maluwa alleged that Kampachike Chisale and his colleagues blocked Chihana’s convoy that was on a whistle-stop tour in the area.
She dismissed allegations that K17 million was stolen from Chisale’s car, further alleging that Kampachike Chisale was not assaulted as he ran away after villagers descended on him and his colleagues.
On what Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is doing to enforce a elections code of conduct that warns against campaign violence, MEC director of media and communications Sangwani Mwafulirwa said the cases need to be reported both to police and MEC, adding that the commission will weigh in to ensure that the matters are fully investigated and prosecuted.
“You will recall that these are offences. The commission would urge that these be reported to both the Police and the commission,” he said.
National Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya said police are investigating the cases and will bring the perpetrators to book. He also called on political parties to promote tolerance.
However, he said cases of violence have reduced during the official campaign period when compared to the period before the official campaign.
Meanwhile, Malawi Peace and Unity Commission chairperson bishop Mary Nkosi expressed sadness over rising cases of violence despite the commission and other stakeholders sensitising people on the need to promote peace and unity.
Public Affairs Committee secretary Bishop Gilford Matonga condemned the violence, saying people should not resort to violence even when they are under pressure to protect their votes.
MEC launched the 60-day official campaign on July 14 and it will end on September 14.
