BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—President Arthur Peter Mutharika has condemned the political violence that erupted on Friday in Phalombe that resulted in injury of several journalists who were part of the convoy of vice president Saulos Chilima, who is also the Tonse Alliance running mate.
Chilima and Tonse Alliance partners were conducting whistle-stop rallies in the Lhowme belt in preparation for the forthcoming fresh presidential election but thugs, believed to be Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supporters, attacked them on their way to Phalombe.
The thugs smashed the vehicle with stones, resulting in the injuries of the media staffers.
In a statement released by presidential spokesperson Mgeme Kalilani on Friday, Mutharika says the Phalombe incident was a product of what the opposition has been doing to DPP members in central region.
“The political violence in Phalombe and Mulanje on Friday comes on the background of opposition party leaders and their supporters celebrating and praising the violence opposition-sponsored hoodlums inflicted on innocent Democratic Progressive Party supporters who were innocently escorting the president’s convoy in Ndirande.
“Further, the political violence in Mulanje and Phalombe comes against a background of irresponsible verbal attacks on prominent personalities and some tribes in the country at Njamba Freddom Park in Blantyre by senior members of the so-called Tonse Alliance. Such conduct is inflammatory and irresponsible. It must stop,” reads the statement.
Mutharika also alleged that some Nsundwe residents who defected to the ruling party from the opposition Malawi Congress Party are being harassed and tortured in the area by the MCP leadership.
“The president is informed that community members fromNsundwe who recently defected from the Malawi Congress Party and joined the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) are being displaced from their homes. Some have had their houses destroyed and are being chased from the community for choosing to support the Democratic Progressive Party. Such behaviour is barbaric,” says Mutharika in the statement.
Atupele Muluzi, who is the running mate for Mutharika in the upcoming election, has also joined his boss in condemning the political violence in the country.
“I would like to join His Excellency the State President Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika in condemning all forms of political violence as we head towards fresh presidential elections this year. Whether it is hate speeches, heckling of opponents, spreading disinformation to incite hate, or it is physical violence against those of a different political allegiance, it has no place in our beautiful Malawi. We appeal for tolerance and an issue based campaign,” said Muluzi.
Malawians will vote in a fresh presidential poll within the next 33 days after the Supreme Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the Constitutional Court to nullify the May 21 2019 presidential election due to massive irregularities.
Incumbent president Peter Mutharika is going to face opposition leader, Lazarus Chakwera, in the fresh election and the two opponents have rolled out a stiff campaign across the country to woo the electorate.