DPP’s Kasaila irks MCP in Malawi Parliament over Nsanje ‘killings’

Nsanje Central Member of Parliament (MP) Francis Kasaila, who is also Minister of Labour, Youth and Manpower Development, on Monday afternoon provoked the main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP)  when he said Nsanje district is developing under  Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as it was dead during MCP reign.

Making his contribution to President Peter Mutharika’s opening speech of the current sitting of Parliament, Kasaila who boosted that he is in his eight years as legislator and would be re-elected in 2019 elections under the banner of DPP, said there is remarkable development in Nsanje.

“We have electricity, piped water, good schools, good roads and people of Nthondo are pleased with  the DPP administration,” said Kasaila.

“Nsanje today is not the same district which was referred to as naked. Under the DPP government we have benefited in terms of electricity, qualified doctors at our hospitals amongst other things. It is important to recognize that under the DPP, Nsanje has developed beyond recognition…”

He said under MCP administration Nsanje had only a prison as an infrastructure development.

“The only thing that MCP is remembered for in Nsanje is the prison which they (MCP) used to kill people,” said Kasaila.

When questioned of the allegations, he continued saying no one can even deny the involvement of the MCP in the deaths of what he said were the so called enemies of MCP including the likes of the late Dick Matenje. This, he said, can never be erased from the history of Malawi.

“They used the prison in Nsanje to kill political opponents. They were killing people,”  streesed Kasaila in a charged tone.

However his remarks prompted MCP members to stand on point of order. They included Salima North-West MP Jessie Kabwila,  Dowa East  MP Richard Chimwendo  and Kasungu Central MP Amon Nkhata, saying every member is under obligation to provide accurate information in the house.

Kabwila accused  Kasaila of having “selective memory” by claiming that Nsanje people are happy with DPP when recently MCP won a parliamentary seat in Nsanje Lalanje during the by-elections.

The MCP legislators also demanded Kasaila to substantiate his allegations that MCP were killing people in Nsanje.

Jiya said Kasaila was privileged to have the MCP old guard as his Cabinet collegues , citing Minister of Information and Communication ICT Nicholous Dausi as one of the former regime key operative. Others included Presidential adviser Hetherwick Ntaba.

Speaker Richard Msowoya asked Kasaila to back his allegation of MCP “killings” in Nsanje at the height of the 31-year-old reign of the country’s oldest party which was blighted by arbitrary detentions, killings, expulsions and disappearances of those opposed to founding president Hastings Kamuzu Banda.

“It is a shame that they are denying this. Former ministers Aaron Gadama, Twaibu Sangala, were killed ..” said Kasaila.

But pressed to present evidence related to Nsanje killings, Kasaila said he would submit the evidence “ this  Friday.”

MCP which ruled Malawi brutally in one party dictatorship has been on renewal political path with new crop of politicians and leader  Lazarus Chakwera.

Chakwera is already on record to have asked for forgiveness for atrocities committed during the one-party rule.