DPP ‘probes’ assault of two female MP’s by Cadets
Malawi’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is investigating complaints by its female lawmakers Bernadette Mlaka Maliro (Chikhwawa central) and Philomina Kasambwe (Chiradzulu central) that they were assaulted at President Bingu wa Mutharika rally in Thyolo.
The MPs were roughed up by a gang of DPP youth militants christened as Cadets in Thyolo last week when President Mutharika was opening a road, it was claimed.
“They MPs were accused of being close to another MP Moses Kunkuyu, leader of Hope Alliance pressure group,” said a top DPP official familiar with the matter.
The Cadets accused the two MPs of being members of the pressure group, a charge they denied.
The two were reported to have been given a few slaps that forced them to seek refugee from DPP secretary-general Wakuda Kamanga.
Kamanga promised to investigate the matter after the two MPs threatened to stop attending Presidential functions for fear of their security.
“We are investigating this matter,” Kamanga said.
This is not the first time for DPP male zealots to attack female lawmakers, they also assaulted Thyolo North MP Anita Kalinde because she was a supporter of Vice President Joyce Banda who was expelled from DPP and formed her People’s Party.
Kalinde was assaulted at a public function where President Mutharika was present.
Banda was running mate to President Mutharika in the 2009 presidential polls, which saw them win the election. This was the first time Malawi had a female vice president since it attained independence in 1964.
But top DPP official and the party’s regional governor for the South, Noel Masangwi, told the local media that Malawi is not ready to be led by a woman.
The development also comes barely weeks after DPP youth cadets beat and insulted its Thyolo West legislator Charles Mchacha.
President Mutharika’s younger brother, Peter, who is also minister of foreign affairs, is being propped up by the party’s top leadership to take up the presidential mantle when his brother’s term of office expires in 2014.
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