By Burnett Munthali
Thugs armed with axes, stones, panga knives, sticks and catapults wore masks in and disguised themselves damaged cars, injured people and scattered Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members who gathered on Saturday 24 February, 2024 at Mbowe filling Station in Lilongwe. Many victims were attacked and some women were raped at Mbowe filling station on Saturday 24 February 2024. It is alleged the thugs are from the Malawi Congress Party
Late at night on Saturday, one of the victims in the Mbowe attack made a call at around 20:00 hours and spoke to this reporter that his car had been smashed and his mobile phone was stolen in the process by MCP thugs.
He explained in a WhatsApp call that he got badly beaten up, injured and was rushed to hospital for medication but is now recovering. The major concern is that other DPP members got seriously injured and were hospitalized.
Giving highlights on the attack, some MCP cabinet ministers were reportedly involved in planning all this scenario against the DPP.
He said the MCP attackers camped at Civo Stadium where they were waiting for the right time to attack. When the crowd of MCP thugs came out for the attack, Redson Munlo, was spotted among MCP thugs attacking DPP members at Mbowe filling station with axes, panga knives, catapults, rocks and sticks.
Surprisingly no arrests have been made to this moment.
Following this incident, an underground cover investigation by this reporter was launched, and we have been reliably informed that two Malawi Congress Party (MCP) cabinet ministers (names withheld) were in the habit of involving young men from Mchesi and Area 36 to disrupt protests and opposition.
Our investigation done on Sunday 25 February 2024 reveals that one of the DPP members who lives in Mchesi was among the hacked people by MCP thugs but was at his home as an out patient and recovering.
Another information sourced within Mchesi indicates that one of the MCP attackers ended up getting seriously injured in the fracas. MCP top officials are reported to have taken the injured to Dyaeng Luke Private clinic for medical attention so that the DPP should not know his whereabouts
as they would easily spot him at Kamuzu Central Hospital or any nearby clinic and take revenge.
While in Mchesi, a friend confused to this reporter that the young man whose picture is circulating in social media and took part in the attack against the DPP is actually a resident of Mchesi. His residence was accurately located (location withheld) to this reporter and authorities have been contacted for his possible arrest.
According to the ongoing investigations regarding the political attack at Mbowe filling station, it has been reported that Minister Richard Chimwendo Banda is involved into this whole thing.
One of the eye witnesses who lives in Area 9 says, Hon Richard Chimwendo Banda was spotted at Civo Stadium paying money to some youth who later went to attack DPP members at Mbowe filling station on Saturday 24 February 2024. It is argued that although Chimwendo has threatened to sue some DPP officials for defamation, he is surely the masterminder of violence against DPP.
Flashing back in September 2023, Heavily armed police and a civilian gang foiled a street demonstration led by political activist Bon Kalindo, causing commotion in the process near Lilongwe Bridge. Kalindo and his group started their march from Lilongwe Community Centre ground en route to deliver a petition either to Lilongwe District Council or President Lazarus Chakwera’s official residence, Kamuzu Palace when they were intercepted at Lilongwe Bridge by police and another group that emerged from the opposite direction.
The other group was seen passing through a human wall of armed police and started pelting Kalindo’s group, who were equally under police escort, with stones. In the ensuing commotion, police fired teargas, prompting the protesters to scamper in different directions. Police who were escorting Kalindo’s team, retaliated by firing tear gas at the opposing group of about 100, but were ordered to stop by their colleagues from the opposite side. All this chaos too was organised by Malawi Congress Party.
More revelations to follow.
