By Burnett Munthali
The Democratic Progressive Party DPP has condemned the continued political violence perpetrated by the Malawi Congress Party MCP against opposition parties in the country as Malawi prepares for 2025 general elections.
Shadric Namalomba who is the Presidential and party spokesperson says the latest political violence was inflicted on AFORD members on Friday 17 th May 2024 in Mponela where they were doing preparatory rehearsals for their mega rally scheduled to take place on Sunday 19 th May 2024. Women and young men were beaten, phones snatched and party regalia stolen.
According to a letter signed by Honourable Shadric Namalomba, he says this dad situation cones at a time when citizens area are celebrating 30 years of democracy in Malawi. The DPP warns the MCP and it’s entire leadership that people do not want one party dictatorship and the cruel MCP state but democracy . The DPP is shocked that although the MCP had benefited from the fruits of democracy which the party strongly opposed, the MCP and their President Reverend Lazarus Chakwera are in the forefront of inflicting political violence on the opposition. The silence of President Chakwera in political violence tells it all.
“The wave of MCP violence is unacceptable,” part of the letter reads.
The DPP has since called on the Malawi Police Service to investigate and arrest the perpetrators of all political violence.
Early this year, MCP members armed with axes, stones, panga knives, sticks and catapults wore masks in and disguised themselves damaged cars, injured and scattered Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members who gathered on Saturday 24 February, 2024 at Mbowe filling Station in Lilongwe. Many innocent victims were attacked and some women were raped in the process at Mbowe filling station on Saturday 24 February 2024. It was strongly alleged the thugs were from the Malawi Congress Party as one of the vehicles belonging to an MCP official was seen carrying and dropping some of the thugs at Mbowe in that day.
In March 2024, The Malawi Police Service (MPS), for the first time, blamed political leaders for fanning political violence.
National Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya said violence during electioneering could end if political leaders controlled their youth.
