Police have pledged to level the playing field for all contestants during the official campaign period for the September 16 General Election.
Ndirande Police station officer Robert Twalibu made the pledge in Blantyre yesterday after a solidarity march to raise awareness on the need for apeaceful campaign.
He was responding to sentiments from some quarters, including civil society organisations and opposition political parties that police tend to play double standards in handling political violence cases.
Speaking in an interview, he said levelling the playing field is one of the strategies police have put in place to curb political violence.
He said: “We are working with all political parties to ensure that we have peaceful campaign period and even beyond the general election.”
Yesterday’s parade started from Ndirande Police Station to Henry Henderson Institute (HHI) Roundabout on the Old Chileka Road, widely known as Magalasi Road, with stops at Goliyo, Ndirande Main Market and Makata Market before ending at Chinseu Trading Centre within the populous township.
commitment to peace. | Jonathan Pasungwi
Representatives from various political parties, notably Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), UTM Party, United Democratic Front, People’s Party, Alliance for Democracy, People’s Development Party and National Development Party participated.
In his address, Blantyre Malabada Constituency UTM Party governor Tedson Jumbe urged police and supporters from all political parties to give each aspirant equal opportunity to campaign freeLY ahead of the election.
He said: “We should not allow politics to divide us. We are one family. Say no to political violence.”
Jumbe’s MCP counterpart Herbert Mapila said his party has already sensitised its supporters on the need to refrain from political violence before, during and after elections.
On her part, Ndirande interparty liaison committee chairperson Miriam Banda said learning from past experience, different party leaderships agreed to work together in sensitising their supporters to refrain from political violence.
Ndirande has as recently as last November recorded cases of political violence when Minister of Information and Digitalisation Moses Kunkuyu’s motorcade was stoned. Former president Peter Mutharika’s motorcade also experienced a similar incident ahead of the 2020 court-sanctioned fresh presidential election while President Lazarus Chakwera’s convoy was blocked by some Ndirande residents at HHI last year.
Last month, Malawi Police Service came under fire from some delegates to the Public Affairs Committee Sixth All-Inclusive Stakeholders Conference who accused the law enforcement agency of failing the nation in handling political violence.
