Chilima accuses DPP of ‘rigging through terror and intimidation’

January 30, 2019 Nyasa Times Reporter 28 Comments

Vice-President Saulos Chilima, who is torchbearer of UTM Party in the May 21 elections, has accused  the DPP–led government of perpetuating violence as another form of rigging the outcome of the polls but expressed confidence that even in the event of terror his party is ready to usher in the change Malawi needs.

Chilima: Violence and intimidation is a form of vote rigging….and is a tactic used by unpopular parties. The DPP is no exceptional

The UTM leader told a news conference broadcast live on Zodiak TV and Radion on Wednesday from Lilongwe that violence and intimidation is a form of vote rigging.

He said that is a tactic used by unpopular parties and that the DPP is no exception.

“My fellow Malawians, you must understand that violence and intimidation is a form of vote rigging. Violence and intimidation is used by unpopular politicians to stop others from effectively campaigning and canvassing for votes, thereby denying voters the choice they desperately need,” said Chilima.

“Violence and intimidation is used by undemocratic and unprogressive tribal parties to create a climate of fear for everyone because they know they cannot fairly compete and win and the DPP is no exception. Violence and intimidation is being used to stop people from organizing rallies or attending rallies,” he added.

Chilima continued: “ The idea is to depress the opposition vote. But they shall fail miserably. They shall fail miserably because good overcomes evil. They shall fail miserably because Malawians are made of sterner stuff!,” said Chilima.

The UTM leader said he held a news conference as he felt “morally compelled and politically responsible” to discuss events threatening the elections and attempts at circumventing the will of the people.”

Chilima  also condemned in particular, the undressing of UTM woman in Mangochi and the beating of  Malawi Congress Party (MCP) supporter Edward Govati in Blantyre.

“The sad case of Veronica Katanga, a member of The UTM, who was undressed by cowardly alleged DPP thugs is only a tip of the iceberg. We are talking about it because it was caught on camera. How about the so many powerless men, women, boys and girls that are beaten, harassed because they do not subscribe to the ideals of the ruling party? The case of Edward Govati, a MCP sympathizer who was brutally and savagely beaten by surrogates of the DPP is again only a tip of the iceberg,” said Chilima.

Malawi  will hold watershed  elections on May 21. The country has held competitive elections since 1993, when the repressive one-party regime of Hastings Kamuzu Banda, who ruled for three decades after independence, ended.

But analysts say the country is still mired in a cycle of personality-driven patronage politics that feeds graft.

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28 replies on “Chilima accuses DPP of ‘rigging through terror and intimidation’”

  4. My fellow DPP supporters lets refrain from violence. We shouldnt wait for people from other parties to tell us that violence is primitive and has no place in our democracy. Zina kumavomela.

    1. Mr Phiri sir open your eyes. Anthuwa akuzipanga okha awa kufuna kunyansitsa dzina la DPP. Monga inu simunaone chithunzi cha winiko chija? Malaya magazi ponseponse koma pomwe pakutuluka magazi pathupi lakelo posaoneka, ndinso mutu omanga yet chomwe amangira mmutucho chopanda magazi yet amati wabvulazidwa kwambiri mmutu. Come next day, achotsa cha mmutu chija and again povulazidwapo posaoneka. Look this doesn’t need to take a genius to conclude that these UTM clowns are just a bunch of comedians.

  5. Paja mumati mukufunatu kukhala torch bearer of these same people so somehow you are part of the problem. Bola azimayi and achina Chakwera engaged the IG. Iwe why not go engage the IG. I thought you say you signed a contract with the people of Malawi and you are still VP of Malawi. Go to area 30. You are there boss. Tell them to be professional. Ukumuwopa Dausi ukukayankhulira ku BICC. U r telling Peter he swore to protect the constitution. How about you.

  6. So this is how you can waste peoples’ time by gathering jaunalists and tell them zoti tidamva kale. This is nonsense and bullshit eti. Ife timaona ngati you are coming to break certain news, koma ayi ndithu, za mkutu za zii.

    2. Naweso youth league iwe, chani chasintha apa? IG wako uyu akuteteza ma criminals ma DPP Cadet kusiya kuteteza anthu opanda chifukwa. Koma wava uthenga womanga mutundu was Malawi

  8. Ndiye mukuti mukufuna u president nfundo zake zimene bwana Arafat? shaaa mwagenda katauluka basi or pension ya vice simuiona. Malizani kulandira zaulerezo

  9. You have done it again! I’m very impressed with this young man, very Presidential, you are always rising above the pack. You are the only hope for Malawi for sure!

  11. Yes political violence must stop. If this is not carefully looked into, then Malawi slowly is going back to an era of atrocities.

  12. I like the retaliation part of the speech. Malawians have mobilised themselves before when they felt the government/police was unable to protect them. Like in cases of rampant theft Communities have mobilised themselves and caught the thieves and beat them. DPP thugs are no exceptional. They can be surrounded in their locations, beaten and killed, their houses torched. This can be a campaign where we can start I isolating them one by one and then deal with them and their families. In just under two weeks we will be able to clean up the country of these cockroaches. This is very possible. I repeat this is very possible. And I am sure when it reaches that end it will be too late for the police to intervene.

    1. I feel your frustration and pain Kadenge. But retaliation will only breed more violence. Think of innocent people who could be affected. There should be a difference between people and animals they call DPP cadets. Yes, they are animals as what they do is unthinkable of human beings. Our police are not helping matters and I guess they are animals too. They look the other way when the evil cadets are at the centre of violence. I guess there motto is “to serve and protect the DPP cadets”.

  14. Make no mistake and believe kuti m’dala uyu is just a “walk over” He has significant support than what all of you have individually

  15. What a missed opportunity. Ife timayesa you will talk something sensible, may be about coalition or runningmate, koma ukutiuza zomwe tikudziwa kale. What a wastage of time. Even last time you kept people and journalist eager and anxious kuti a VP alakhula, only to disappoint them by talking bullshit.
    Just a free advice: if you don’t form a coalition, your are down and out.

  16. We expected at this presser to see Chilima unveiling his running mate for the May 21 Tripartite elections or to talk about possible electoral marriage with another political party. But he did not touch the two hot issues. He only condemned political violence that has marred the political pavement in Malawi as the road to May 21, 2019 looks nearer, each passing day.

    The presser could carry same weight if he had just issued a strong statement on the ‘on-going’ political violence. This does not undermine his presser, but considering how eager Malawians are on the name of his running, the presser could extend to that unveiling. What do you think folks?

    Anyway, that is the way the UTM team planned things to be. As he announced, we will be looking forward to hear the name of his running mate. Will he choose a woman or a man? Will he pick the within UTM or outside UTM blanket? Will his running mate be older or younger than himself? Will the running mate come from Southern, Central or Northern Region? What about Eastern Region? Wil the running mate help him to woo Malawi votes which are now up for grabs?

    ON POSSIBLE ELECTORAL ALLILANCE: Will his UTM marry the black cock, orange team, or yellow crew? Will the UTM go solo?

    These are the questions people would like to know. We waited to hear answers today but we will not get tired to wait for the final answers which will burry the on-going rumours.

    The same applies to the blue camp (the ruling DPP) which has not yet announced APM’s running mate. Malawians are very eager to know. The questions above also apply to DPP and UDF.

    Let us wait and see. As we wait, let us not forget to remember that we are all Malawians hence political violence should not be tolerated by any political party. regardless of our differences in political taste, we meet in same church, mosque, workplace and sometimes we belong to same grand parent. We also booze together as one at the pub, and sometimes from the same Chibuku packet. We are one.

  18. Manthatu amenewo akulu, bvomelezani kuti ku camp sidzikuyenda, kulubwalubwaku tatopa nako. Man up and face the real players in the game.

    1. VP hates the Lhomwe tribe so much i dont know why Kweni is still ululating to this hateful leader. akawina alhomwe onse alimmadzi kuyambira kweni, manga,winiko just to mention a few.

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