Police officers, traders and members of community policing forum yesterday abandoned their daily tasks to jointly parade in Blantyre to stress the importance of peace and tolerance ahead of the September 16 General Election.
The parade, a follow up to one the Inspector General of Police Merlyne Yolamu led in Lilongwe last week, started from Old Town Hall along Victoria Avenue in Blantyre central business district through the Masauko Chipembere Highway to South West Region Police Headquarters near the Judiciary complex at Chichiri.
During the march, the participants hoisted placards with messages condemning political violence. One of the placards read ‘Tigwirane manja pothetsa ziwawa [Let’s join hands in ending violence].’
The parade also attracted police officers in cruisers and anti-riot vehicles.
In his remarks at the end of the march, Blantyre Vendors Association chairperson Alfred Ching’ang’a said some of the members have previously been used by politicians to attack those holding different views. He said others have also been involved in violent demonstrations.
Ching’ang’a said the vendors have usually ended up being victims of violence after losing their property or getting arrested or hacked.
“My plea to fellow traders is that you should focus on your businesses. Do not get involved in demonstrations which do not concern you,” he said.
A representative of the Blantyre business community, Jeremiah Kazota, said political violence instils fear among the public and affects businesspersons as they close their shops.
He encouraged fellow businesspersons to report acts of violence to police to protect property and people’s lives.
On his part, Community Policing national chairperson Yunus Lambat said the parade was significant in spreading the message of peace and stability ahead of the elections.
“My appeal is that we should conduct election activities peacefully and respectfully. Elections will come and go but our lives will go on,” he said.
South West Region Police Deputy Commissioner Mavuto M’bobo said the region has not registered reports of political violence for several months and he expressed hope that the trend will continue.
“We will continue to collaborate with the public and the business community to maintain peace in the region,” he said.
The parade yesterday came on the back of a similar initiative by the Rastafarian Community last Tuesday which members of various political parties, civil society groups and the public joined.
A day before that march, parties under the Centre for Multiparty Democracy banner committed to refrain from political violence in the run up to the elections.
In the past 12 months, the country has been experiencing political violence in various places.
On May 11 this year, a minibus transporting Democratic Progressive Party followers was set ablaze in Mponela, Dowa as party members were returning from a political rally in Ntchisi.
In February, a vehicle carrying Malawi Congress Party members enroute to a political rally at Senior Chief Nyambi headquarters in Machinga District was also attacked.
