By Vincent Gunde

Malawi Watch Executive Director (ED) Billy Banda, has called on Army Commander General Paul Velentino Phiri to address Malawi Congress Party (MCP) political violence against human rights activists and demonstrators in Malawi.

Banda said for two occasions, ‘Malawi First’ demonstrations have failed to achieve their objectives after being blocked by MCP thugs backed by Malawi Police Service (MPS) firing tearing gas to disperse activists and the demonstrators.

He said the MCP thugs have unleashed terror against the activists and demonstrators as they have been seen carrying with them offensive weapons such as pangas, catapults, axes, big stones and in between them, there are militias trained at Mtakataka carrying guns to disrupt peaceful demonstrations.

Speaking through an audio clip circulating on various social media platforms, Banda said Malawians and activists want to hear from the Army Commander General Paul Velentino Phiri’s position on MCP perpetrated violence against activists and demonstrators.

Banda has asked the Army Commander to deploy his officers to man demonstrations claiming that the Army is for the citizens and not the MCP saying it is sad that the Malawi Police Service (MPS) provide security to MCP thugs during demonstrations.

He said as evidenced by the past two failed demonstrations, security on the part of activists and demonstrators in Malawi has deteriorated making them to look like slaves in their own country and Malawi to look like a borrowed country.

“I know, General Paul Velentino Phiri is a humble man by the way he speaks, Malawians are aggrieved, he will come to rescue us,” said Banda.

The Human Rights A
activist has expressed hope that the Army will side with the suffering Malawians just the same as they did in 2019-2020 to liberate the country from the shackles of DPP dictatorship which was unleashing terror against the citizens in an attempt to remain in government.

Malawi First President who calls himself President of the poor activists Bon Elias Kalindo, has warned opposition parties that if they continue sitting down and watching MCP perpetrating violence against the citizens, they will find no chance to campaign in Lilongwe and Central Region.

Kalindo said time has now come for opposition parties to voice out their concerns to the donor community by reporting on the abuse of human rights the MCP through its thugs is doing to activists and citizens in Malawi besides the court issuing clearance for demonstrations to take place.

“A good leader must side with the suffering people, that time is now, join the citizens as they will be demonstrating to reclaim their hard-won democracy back from the hands of the MCP,” he said.