DPP cadres disrupt opposition MCP, PP joint rally in Mzuzu

Thugs reportedly organised and sponsored by ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Sunday attempted to disrupt a joint opposition rally organised by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and Peoples Party (PP) in the northern city of Mzuzu and injurred two officials of MCP.

The panga wielding thugs approached the venue of rally, Chibavi and started disrupting the meeting and hacked one of the bodyguards of leader of opposition Lazarus Chakwera.

A large crowd attended the gathering, at which Chakwera, Kamlepo Kalua the vice president of PP, and Enock Chihana, president of the Alliance for Democracy(Aford) also spoke.

The thugs also smashed the bus belonging to MCP central region youth director, a Mr Mseka.
Earlier, the thugs uprooted flags the opposition erected at the venue and in the city.

Kamlepo claimed the violence was  orchestrated, sponsored and well planned by DPP.

Minister of Information Jappie Mhango said the opposition should not drag DPP administration into their internal squabbles.

Mhango said the internal conflicts in MCP and PP were haunting the two parties

However, Kamlepo  said when the incidents were reported to Police, the cops were scared to act for fear of the government who were behind the violence.

Kamlepo later said the opposition would continue to organize meetings despite the violence.

He said the disturbances will not dampen their spirit.

“The struggle continues and we will prevail,” said Kamlepo.

MCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwila  said a number of their supporters suffered varying degrees of injuries.

She  said two party members had been hospitalised in Mzuzu.

Kabwila said President Peter Mutharika and his DPP functionaries  would rather preserve the country’s peace and stability than risk it for the sake of political power.

Chihana condemened  the ruling political leaders nurturing political hooligans ,saying they can potentially turn against them and subject them to the same violence if there was a political difference.

He warned that the ones that are orchestrating and commanding violence against people should remember that they are creating “a culture of intolerance and bloodshed “.

Chihana said the organisers of the  disturbances will be victims of the same violence when they have a political fallout.

Ealier in the morning, the opposition leaders attended Sunday prayers at St Andrews CCAP church.–Additional reporting Alfred Chauwa, Nyasa Times

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