Four arrested for Mzuzu fracas at Malawi opposition rally: Masters shielded

Malawi Police have arrested four people in connection to the violence that erupted on  Sunday at a solidarity rally Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera held in Mzuzu city.

Chakwera, Alliance for Democracy (Aford) president Enoch Chihana, PP third vice-president Kamlepo Kalua and other opposition members of Parliament (MPs) were subjected to attacks by panga wielding rough necks sat Chibavi Primary School ground in the northern city.

Northern Region Police spokesman Maurice Chapola said the suspects are ; George Mwamtobe, 38, from Mwangukulu Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Kilipula in Karonga; Lumbani Munthali, 29, from Matupi Village, T/A Chikulamayembe, Rumphi; Clive Nthakomwa, 52, of Malema Village, T/A Kyungu in Karonga; and, Frank Simwaka Kashololo, 30, from Kashololo Village, T/A Mwenewenya in Chitipa.

According to Chapola, Munthali and Mantombe are ticket seller in Mzuzu bus depot.

“There will be more arrests. We arrested the four separately but investigations are still going on,” said Chapola.

Meanwhile, Police also recorded statement from Mzimba West MP (PP) Harry Mkandawire on what he observed at the rally.

Mkandawire was forewarned by former PP regional chair Christopher Mzomera Ngwira not attend the rally because there was going to be violence.

Ngwira is said to have organised the panga wielding thugs with funding from governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Police are yet to question Ngwira.

The opposition alleged that the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) had a hand in the violence but the DPP has denied responsibility.

Human rights organisations called upon the Police to bring the perpetrators “including their masters” to justice.

Malawi Law Society is on record condemning political violence saying it “breeds political instability and this in turn affects a number of developmental issues, including investor confidence and respect for human rights.”