Bloodshed at UTM primaries in Rumphi: ‘Thugs’ ambush polls
The UTM party ‘s first ever primary elections on Thursday were canceled in Rumphi central after unknown roughnecks who are believed to have come from Ng’onga area in the same District attacked the electoral college and severely injured the chairman of the polls.
UTM Vice Northern Regional Governor Afiki Mbewe, who was the parties observer at the venue, confirmed of the development, saying the mob attacked them as they were about to commence the polls injuring Anord Gondwe who was chairing the polls.
“The person who was chairing the polls has been severely injured and he was taken to the hospital in Rumphi District where we are told he has been moved to Mzuzu Central Hospital,” explained Mbewe
“The mob that has attacked us and disabled the primaries today are not UTM supporters [suspected regime thugs], all we know is that these people just ganged up and started the violence,” added Mbewe.
Commenting on the development University of Livingstonia based political analyst George Phiri has called this a sign of failed democracy in Malawi.
“This clearly indicates that we have a long way to go in teaching people about democracy, where each and every person or party has the freedom to compete at any position in his party of choice without being violated in any way of the other,” he said.
“This is not the era for political violence, Malawi is a country that follows democracy, and elections is a competition and not a game of violence to win a position. It is so unfortunate that this is happening,” explained Phiri
Meanwhile, UTM National Executive Committee (NEC) said it will issue a statement.
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Most UTM aspirants have won UNOPPOSED. What type of transformation does UTM stand for?
Chilima and UT agwa nayo. The other day some of us said it is impossible for a political party to hold primaries in all constituencies in one day. UTM supporters claimed it was possible because Chilima ndi katakwe. We now have had the last LAUGH! UTM primaries were marred by poor organisation; low turn out due to poor membership base; lack of presidding officers; violence; no prior agreement on centres for the primaries (i.e. Manganya).
Allan Ngumuya assaulted a fellow aspirant is that we work of DPP.?
The Primary elections werr marred by violence is that the work of DPP.?
Learn to accepted that your party too has problems.No wonder SKC doesnt want to aaccepted that he is part of the problems malawians are facing now.Instead of develping the nation he was busy with preps of launchong his own party.
Tiyeni nazo uku mdikuyamba chabe welcome to the game
Kaliati nkhulilana paja inu munkati mu MCP mulibe Democracy sono izi zanuzi bwanji?
Pephani baTumbuka. You should learn civilised politics. Ba mpoto too primitive.
By the way, Why do you blame everything on DPP? If anything it would be sensible for the DPP to block utm elections in the south but certainly not in the dead north. Wa purika munganya?
DPP 2019 Booooomaa!
This is DPP skill of works.
No room for violence please, lets coexist. After all after the election only few individuals will benefit our taxes inu mukuvutikabe
Very ugly development!
Why should this happen. This is a priority case for the police. Police should be impartial and should prove to all of us that their duty is above politics. Police management should show professionalism in these cases
This should not surprise anybody. Atumbuka are always power hungry. Simunati mukunthana ndithu the same as what is happening in AFORD. Aruta Continuor Atumbuka.