Chakwera condemns DPP ‘political terrorism’:  Says Malawi Congress Party will not be daunted

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) leader Lazarus Chakwera  has condemned ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)  for sponsoring and organising youth cadet for a terror campaign, describing the violence  targetted at leaders of opposition political parties that attended Gonapamuhanya, a Tumbuka ceremony at Bolero in Rumphi as political terrorism.

Clad in their party attire,  DPP sponsored and organised youth cadets for a terror campaign,   targetted  Chakwera, who is also leader of opposition in Parliament,   and his security detail as he was getting to Bolero for Gonapamuhanya event.

The opposition leader had to be whisked away from the fracas using another vehicle Tumbuka Paramount Chief, Chikulamayembe sent.

The DPP cadets manhandled MCP’s chairperson of the North, Kezzie Msukwa.

Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Grace Chiumia, who is also deputy secretary general for DPP,   apologised to Chikulamayembe for the fracas.

“I am very sorry for what has happened, we came here for culture, not a fight,” said Chiumia shamed with her party’s violence.

She said the  DPP terror “must be condemned”.

In a statement  issued on Sunday seen by Nyasa Times, Chakwera said the terror campaign  of DPP  will not silence him.

“If DPP leadership think these acts of terrorism will deter me from fighting for the prosperity and peace of all Malawians and for a permanent end to their government of corruption and cronyism, they are gravely mistaken,” said Chakwera.

“ The cause of a just and prosperous nation for all Malawians is not only one I live for, but one for which I am also prepared, if need be, to die for. As it is written, none of these things move me, for the Lord continues to deliver me from every evil act,” the statement by  Chakwera reads.

Chakwera has revealed that the DPP youth cadets  were not from the north but they were tracked from far distance specifically to attack him.

“When my entourage reached Bolero, we were ambushed by a violent mob of youth, a good number of whom were clad in Democratic Progressive Party branded paraphernalia. These mercenaries took it upon themselves not only to form a human shield to block us from proceeding to the venue of the function, but to also shower us with stones that left one of the glasses of my vehicle in pieces.

“When my wife and I got out of the car to confront them in person in Chitumbuka, it was apparent from their lack of fluency that they were not from the area, but they stated that they were trucked in with instructions from above”to attack me and keep me from attending the function. Had it not been for the hosting Paramount Chief dispatching a vehicle to come to my rescue, it would have been a terrible prospect. Not even the police, who were nearby, came to our aid when we appealed to them to arrest and interrogate one of the mercenaries my security detail had managed to apprehend amidst to tumult,” said Chakwera.

Chakwera also accused DPP for their failure to adhere to rules of not to wear party colours at the festival.

“Before our arrival, the organizing committee had asked our delegation to not wear any Malawi Congress Party branded attire to the function, which we respectfully obliged to and which helped to ease the tension. However, members of the Democratic Progressive Party delegation were summarily told to leave the function because of the violence of the youth they had brought there. To our satisfaction, in a prudent move that we thought would put the matter to rest, Hon. Grace Chiumia, who is a member of cabinet and was the Guest of Honor, spoke publicly at the event to apologise for the conduct of the youth.” says Chakwera.

But in a statement DPP spokesperson Francis Kasaila said the party’s preliminary findings are that these most unfortunate incidences were properly planned and executed by supporters of MCPand their allies.

“We have noted with great concern that the MCP supporters were in possession of some unauthorized dangerous weapons such as pangas, knives and teargas that were put to use during the fracas that ensued, ” said Kasaila.

He said how  the MCP supporters were able to acquire such hazardous weapons and put them to use at a peaceful public event is a question that is bothering every Malawian that loves and promote peace.

“During the Rumphi events, some DPP supporters were mercilessly beaten up by the opposition hooligans and at least one official vehicle of the DPP was heavily smashed by the stone throwing MCP supporters, ” he claimed.

But  Chakwera has accused DPP spokesman  for the statement describing it as provocative.

“It is clear that the DPP leadership has not only adopted a policy of terrorizing the new and peaceful MCP under my leadership, but also a strategy of invoking the history of violence in the old MCP ended by Malawians in 1994 to excuse and justify the culture of violence now entrenched and metastasized in the DPP.

“They believe that Malawians are stupid enough to be deceived by these tactics, but we believe that Malawians across the country are wise enough to see these machinations for the terrorism that they are,” said  Chakwera.

Both parties are  calling upon the Police to swiftly conduct thorough investigations into the Rumphi incidences and ensure that all the perpetrators are brought to book.

 

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