The governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Director of Field Operations Ben Malunga Phiri over the weekend openly displaying a pistol gun in public just a few months after his assistant also displayed a pistol during a public meeting.
A picture circulating on social media shows Phiri surrounded by party loyalists displaying what looked like a pistol on his torso.
Analysts say the action by Phiri signifies the impunity that the DPP is showing in the run up to elections next year.
A few months ago, one of Phiri’s body guards Noel Kaiya also displayed a pistol during a public meeting in Thyolo when he accompanied Phiri to his rally. It is believed Kaiya does not own a gun licence.
Police are yet to investigate Kaiya case.
“In fact this shows that the DPP does not care about the suffering of the people and that’s why they are doing whatever they want,” said one political analyst.
” They are telling us they can do whatever they want because they are in government,” he added.
Our investigations have shown that Phiri has a gun licence.
This however does not justify one be displaying the gun in public.
Phiri is campaigning to claim ra parliamentary seat in Thyolo Central Constituency from incumbent Gabu Bob Khamisa.
The incumbent MP Gabu Khamisa also belongs to DPP but has been swept out by DPP strongman Phiri.
Khamisa, 26, is son to the late Bob Khamisa who once served as MP for the constituency.
The younger Khamisa won the seat as an independent in the May 20 Tripartite Elections after beating his own uncle, Fariz Khamisa, who stood on People’s Party (PP) ticket. He later joined DPP.
Malawi is expected to hold general elections next year.