Chilima warns against Malawi violence developing into genocidal proportions
Vice President Saulos Chilima has spoken against what he calls political thuggery in the country, saying it threatens the stability and that State-sponsored violence has the potential to spark civil war or sliding into “genocide”.
Chilima told a news conference on Monday that President Peter Mutharika’s political ideology revolves around violence and tribal hegemony.
“Yesterday, they destroyed [Malawi Electoral Commission] MEC’s equipment, tomorrow they will destroy your houses. Yesterday, they hacked UTM supporters and monitors in Mulanje, tomorrow they will hack anyone who does not speak their language.
“Yesterday they torched a UTM car, tomorrow they will torch any car bearing the registration number of a district they do not like. This is how civil wars and genocide begin: lack of tolerance and use of violence to settle political scores plus a dosage of leadership foolishness and arrogance,” said Chilima.
Chilima said Malawians of all tribes are suffering together in the country and should not let the political violence develop into genocidal proportions.
“As I have said before, there is no Chewa suffering or Lhomwe poverty. There is no Tumbuka hunger or Ngoni pain. There is no Sena indigence or Yao destitution,” said Chilima.
He said despite belonging to different tribes, Malawians are one people paying allegiance to the same flag.
“We must embrace our diversity and celebrate the plurality of our cultural practices. We are a garden full of flowers of different colours. Our beauty is in our diversity. Our diversity must be a source of strength and not weakness.
“We must also remind ourselves that this unity and peace that we enjoy must not be taken for granted. No matter our political affiliation, we must firmly reject attempts by some political leaders or party supporters to consolidate their support by stocking societal tensions or tribal divisions. This is simply irresponsible and dangerous and must be condemned in the strongest terms,” said Chilima.
Malawi is preparing a fresh presidential elections slated for July 2 2020 subjected to Supreme Court of Appeal ruling.
Ahead of the elections the ugly face of political violence has started rearing its head.
Chilima said 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. Violence and intimidation is used by undemocratic and unprogressive tribal parties as the DPP to create a climate of fear for everyone because they know they cannot fairly compete and win,” he said.
Chilima said the DPP shall fail to subvert the will of Malawians in the fresh vote “because good overcomes evil” and that Malawians are made of “sterner stuff.”
He also said it is also very reckless and myopic for the DPP to use terror and intimidation to try to rig this election.
“The continent of Africa is replete with sad examples of how corrupt and inept leaders tried to use violence and intimidation to remain perpetually in power only to set their countries alight with uncontrollable violence and civil war.
“We must never ever play with fire. We must never take this peace we enjoy in this country for granted. It is simply silly and irresponsible,” he said.
Chilima asked President Mutharika to stop the violence which he alleged is perpetrated by his “surrogates” to avoid people witnessing chaos similar to that experienced in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and other hotspots in Africa and elsewhere,
Said Chilima: “You swore to defend the Constitution and protect Malawians. You must rise to your constitutional duties.”
He said Malawi send soldiers on peacekeeping missions in DRC and other places where many fellow Africans are suffering because of civil wars.
Chilima said it is “completely senseless and nonsensical”, for anyone no matter who they are to attempt to use such a well-respected breed of soldiers to unleash terror on their own fellow citizens.
“Again, this attempt shall fail miserably as we believe that our soldiers shall protect the lives of their fellow Malawians as they do to those of the Congolese,” said Chilima.
Government is yet to respond to Chilima’s statements.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Chirima is a crook just like Mtambo and Chakwera they are busy creating sines .Some enemies are within their alliance and a lot of people who had their property destroyed.MCP waishosha dala.He wanted to see a lion ,he is going to see it now.
What do you think would have been the consequences of your actions with HRDC? Peace? You are immature and naive
Za ziiii. Always CRITICISING
Violence is not acceptable and congratulations SKC for condemning it. But Mr VP, are you only seeing the bad side of violence now when in fact you spent months with Timothy and Pastro Chakwera leading violent and damaging demonstrations that destroyed so many businesses? You even called them peaceful and said people were exercising their rights, seriously? Businesses, lage companies and small traders lost millions and millions and you did not see anything wrong? It is this exact behaviour of yours that is worrisome, everything is all about you and you care very little about others until you are directly… Read more »
The head of Arafat Hamdani aka Zeze is so full of violence. I heard him with my own ears saying “Nthawi imene ine, aChakwera ndi HRDC timachita ziwawa…” Oh sorry timachita zionetsero. My take: timachita zionetsero za ziwawa. Very stupid! The burnt, broke and looted Lilongwe, Mzuzu, Karonga etc. Only Blantyre did not allow them to do this nonsense that Zeze is priding about. In fact one of these dunderheads was shown nyenyezi dzuwa likuswa mtengo.
Someone has to say it when nobody dares. Chilima, regardless of what happens after July, you will always have my respect for standing up for the truth and the vulnerable masses. Saluting you Sir !
DPP ikulira , they are bad losers, and they know for sure that their days in government are numbered…. Kwa a Malawi wonse akufuna kwabwino pempho langa ndi ili, masiku amdima wa DPP atsala wowelengeka ndipo dziko lowala where every citizen will be treated equally and the rule of law respected by everyone is coming. DPP’s plan is to intensify these attacks so that when the opposition retaliates, then APM should declare a state of emergency to stop the elections. Lockdown has failed to save them now they are using violence. So my plea to the opposition is to avoid… Read more »
The Problem is you only see violence as an issue when Ur supporters get on the receiving end. When pro govt supporters r beaten up, hacked to death and have their Bussinesses burnt down, you deliberately pay a blind eye , and play deaf. So who is to blame? As Leaders, you shld be condemning ( in strongest terms) any kind of violence regardless of who a victim is.
Well spoken my VP! Somewhere in this country there are two old people above the age of 75 who instead of being statesmen for the position that one is holding and the other one held, they have resorted to keeping power in one region. Probably they are afraid of the corruption that they have been involved in or it’s just pure greed but they will be surprised in July this year! Power is going to the Center! We cannot have two families ruling Malawi as if this is a chieftaincy! We cannot have one region rule Malawi since 1994! It’s… Read more »
True – if they continue Malawi soldiers need to intervene. We have no choice but reject senseless.