BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has risen up to strongly condemn the police action of firing teargas canisters at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre during their Wednesday’s operation intended at dispersing Anti Jane Ansah protesters.
The condemnation has been communicated on Thursday by MCP National Campaign Director, Moses Kunkuyu during a press briefing at the commercial city’s Lotus Hotel.
In his factual articulation, Kumkuyu who was flanked by party officials told journalists that it was disheartening and shocking to learn, that in a frantic unprofessional display, some police officers had resorted to firing teargas at the main referral’s children’s ward, a thing which contributed to the death of a child and the collapse of an expectant mother.
He therefore described the action, which also “inflicted much distress and discomfort on dozens of patients and medical personnel” as both ‘criminal’ and ‘inhumane’.
More to the condemnation, Kumkuyu faulted the police for choosing to help what he described as “lawless mob of DPP cadets” who were the first to confront Malawian citizens, who were marching peacefully, to express their grievances and dissatisfaction with the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) over it’s poor management of the May 21 elections.
Stressing the wrongdoing of the men in uniform, Kumkuyu said: “What was wrong was for Malawi Police Service not only to stand and watch the DPP cadets as they committed these crimes but to also provide security escort to them and join them in attacking the peaceful protesters”.
He further said: “What was wrong was for the Malawi Police Service to completely fail their duty to maintain political impartiality and protest all Malawians equally against any infringement of their rights”.
He also said: “What was wrong for the police was for the peaceful demonstrators to be left defenseless against the DPP and police agents of terror, without the usual protection of the Malawi Defense Force being anywhere in sight.
He hinted that, MCP in particular has lost confidence in the yet to be confirmed Acting Inspector General of Police, Duncan Mwapasa’s leadership at the state institution.
He therefore pointed out that, as the appointment of Mwapasa goes to Parliament, the question in MCP parliamentarians remains in bold letters: “Is this the kind of who seeks support from us for confirmation?”
Kumkuyu openly told reporters that in the shadow of the observed failed professionalism, MCP legislators are not ready to support Mwapasa, after all, that he has shown his true colours during his probation period.
Apart from firing teargas at peaceful demonstrators, the police had also failed to protect leaders of Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) from being attacked by DPP cadets as they openly assaulted activist Billy Mayaya and few others.
The mayhem that erupted at the provocation of DPP cadets had completely foiled the HRDC intention of presenting a petition to the SADC Executive Secretary at Mount Soche Hotel where Election Commissioners who were delegates from across the region are attending a week-long conference with the embattled Malawi MEC Chairperson, Jane Ansah in attendance.
