Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has scolded opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for suggesting that the ruling party sponsored hoodlums to disrupt recent peaceful demonstrations in Lilongwe.
MCP secretary general Richard Chimwendo Banda in a telephone interview yesterday said the DPP must provide evidence of their claims.
Chimwendo Banda, who is also Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture, was responding to DPP statement issued on Friday.
Masked and armed hooligans recently dispersed protesters who were pushing the Malawi Electoral Commission and National Registration Bureau to address numerous electoral concerns.
However, the minister yesterday wondered why the DPP put the blame on MCP and not on vendors who may have been protecting their property.
“MCP has no time for political violence. Most of the time vendors lose their merchandise and property during demonstrations. Go and ask vendors why they are protecting their property and if they were sponsored by MCP. We totally refute that,” he said.
In its statement signed by DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba, the party alleged that the ruffians were entirely sponsored by MCP, led by President Lazarus Chakwera.
He faulted Chakwera for not being sincere as he condemned the political violence late.
Reads the DPP statement in part: “We seriously question your sincerity. How can we truly trust your words? These thugs have been supported by your party, MCP and aided by the Malawi Police [Service], with some even receiving military training.”
Namalomba said the thugs’ actions were a clear violation of the Constitution, which guarantees the rights and freedoms of association and peaceful demonstrations.
He said while the whole world is watching, the current regime must be made aware that all those in authority will be held accountable no matter how long it takes.
The DPP spokesperson further said failure to arrest the perpetrators of political violence portrays a bad picture on the part of the Malawi Police Service.
But in an interview on Thursday at Limbe Police Training School at the end of a two-week drill by Scottish Police, Inspector General of Police Merlyne Yolamu said they have arrested the alleged perpetrators.
But she said she could not divulge more details pertaining to the arrests for fear of jeopardising investigations.
“We have arrested them in Lilongwe, but I cannot give out the exact number. But maybe I should also caution Malawians that when exercising their rights, they should know that others have freedoms as well such as conducting businesses which need to be respected,” she said.
In a televised national address on November 27 2024, Chakwera condemned the acts of political violence and asked the Malawi Police Service to arrest the perpetrators.
He said: “These things will take our country nowhere and I am calling on the Malawi Police Service to do its job of investigating every incident of political violence and bringing suspects to book.
“Malawians are peace-loving people and those who use their freedom of political participation or right to demonstrate for violent ends must not be allowed to ruin our reputation as a beacon of democracy in Africa.”
Former presidents Joyce Banda and Bakili Muluzi also issued a joint statement condemning the acts of political violence, in a statement issued last week, British High Commissioner Fiona Ritchie stressed that Malawian authorities have a duty to uphold citizens’ rights.
Ritchie said: “We urge all Malawians to exercise this right responsibly and peacefully, rejecting violence in all its forms. As a long-standing partner of Malawi, the UK encourages dialogue as the foundation for addressing differences and building a stable and democratic society.”
In separate statement, Malawi Human Rights Commission, Youth and Society, National Advocacy Platform, CCAP Blantyre Synod, Church and Society Programme, among others, called on the police to investigate the political violence.
