No room for political violence, police brutality
Journalism is not a crime, so is supporting a political movement. But in the eyes of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) cadres and some overzealous police officers, freedom of expression is a danger to the very survival of the current regime.
Perhaps that is why the police have teamed up with the boys in blue paint in using violence against its perceived enemies; journalists, backers of Chilima Movement and leaders of opposition parties.
Take the violence used on Thursday June 21, for example. Malawi Congress Party vice-president Sadik Mia, who was accompanied by his wife Abida, addressed supporters, vendors and shoppers in Blantyre’s central business area appealing for them to support MCP as Malawi is heading to elections next year in May. However, police stormed the gathering firing teargas to disperse the crowd.
On Friday, June 22, police officers also beat-up two journalists from Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS). The two, Musase Cheyo and Towera Mkandawire went about doing their job covering the fracas between the police and vendors. But they were confronted by hostile police officers, who allegedly mocked them before assaulting them, resulting in various degrees of injury, and had to be referred to Mzuzu Health Centre for treatment.
On Saturday June 23, Mutharika’s scarecrows had their day. The youth cadets descended on Mulanje where they used violence to stop Chilima Movement from holding meetings in the district. This is not the first time they have done so. There have been several incidences where the DPP youth wing have wreaked havoc; beating and chasing those who support other parties.
The violence we witnessed last week is not isolated, but choreographed across the country over a period of time. And it is clear that the Arthur Peter Mutharika’s party and government has abdicated its role to protect the interests of the majority for selfish means.
What is worrying is that our leader has remained quite while his supporters and the police are on rampage. We hardly hear him condemn such acts or urge Acting Inspector General Rodney Jose to investigate such human rights violations.
Jose and his police force need to understand that they are paid by the taxpayer to provide security to all Malawians whether they support the ruling party or not. That’s the very reason, the police must act in a non-partisan manner and ensure that the DPP apparatchiks who are financing and leading the violence are arrested to discourage like-minded individuals from engaging in political violence.
We on the streets do believe that opposition political parties, civil society organisations and the donor community should apply pressure on APM to ensure that DPP cadets who perpetrate violence are brought before a court of law. No one is above the law in this country.
Word on the street is that preventing violence is the responsibility of everyone and the police should engage stakeholders to sensitise political parties on the dangers of violence ahead of the watershed 2019 Tripartite Elections. Until violence is eliminated in the country, there is no way the electoral field in the country can be conducive for a free and fair election.
All party leaders must also ensure that party youths are made aware that there is no room for violence in this country and all those behind heinous acts will be reported to police.
Government has its role too. Our corrupt police officers need to undergo further training on how to investigate and handle human rights and politically-motivated cases, otherwise politicians, especially in DPP, will continue to abuse these officers, the way they have been abusing them for the past four years.
As the official campaign period draws closer violence should not be given room. The violence that keeps rocking the political campaigns should come to a stop, now.
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Non-violence is not a garment to be put on and off at will. Its seat is in the heart, and it must be an inseparable part of our being.—Mahatma Gandhi
