DPP top brass launch verbal onslaught against PAC over ‘the future of Malawi’ conference
The governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) hierarchy on Tuesday launched an onslaught against quasi-religion Public Affairs Committee (PAC) over a major conference where a cross-section of Malawians will be discussing the future of the country at a hotel in the commercial capital, Blantyre.
Addressing a news conference at Crown Hotel in Lilongwe, presidential advisor Hetherwick Ntaba, DPP secretary general secretary general Greselder Jeffrey wa Jeffrey, administrative secretary Francis Mphepo, member Ken Msonda, Minister Jappie Mhango, and legal advisor Charles Mhango condemned the five-plus-one conference which civil rights , religious leaders and academics will meet from Wednesday to discuss Malawi situation.
Mphepo said organisers of the meeting have sinister motives.
“They want a regime change. This conference is being sponsored by opposition parties to trigger calls for regime change,” claimed Mphepo.
He condemned PAC leadership, saying it is no longer religious but militant.
“They have lost their moral compass to lead the grouping,” he added.
On his part Ntaba said the governance watchdog wants to incite Malawians against government.
He said the conference wants to focus on negatives against government without giving the balanced views on the situation in Malawi.
Ntaba claimed PAC wants to use the conference to spark nationwide demonstration against government.
“Our strong intelligence confirms the evil plans where over 300 people will break into spontaneous protests around Mount Soche Hotel, the venue of the conference, with anti-government placards and messages,” explained Ntaba.
He further expressed fears that the intended riots could effect a replica of the infamous 20 July, 2011 protests under which over 20 innocent lives were lost.
According to Ntaba, among the 300 are residents of Blantyre to be drawn from Ndirande, Chilimba and Lunzu and other parts of Thyolo under Vincent Wandale’s People’s Land Organisation (PLO).
“We in the DPP would like to condemn PAC for devising such violent mechanism,” he criticized adding “The DPP wishes to caution PAC and its anti-government agents against causing anarchy and that PAC will be held accountable for any loss of life and property. PAC should not rekindle the sad memories of 20 July, 2011 tragic events.”
Wa Jeffrey claimed the conference is being funded by anti-government elements including opposition leaders.
She also warned PAC that DPP will not allow to be attacked at the conference as it has the Youth Cadets to deal with critics.
But PAC Executive Director Robert Phiri described the allegation as paranoia.
He said Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (Osisa) is the donor approached to fund the forthcoming conference.
Phiri said the conference apart from discussing a report on the feedback from the Fifth All-Inclusive Stakeholders’ Conference and chart the way forward, there will be major talking points on governance situation in the country.
“This will be the time to come up with practical ideas that can be implemented to pull the country out of the challenges it is facing,” Phiri said.
Phiri pointed out that there are increasingly worrying signs of the repression of critics.
Immediately before pro-democracy demonstrations on 20 July 2011, machete-wielding DPP Youth Cadets – a youth wing of the ruling party – were seen driving around the city of Blantyre threatening people to stop them from demonstrating against the government.
The youths would stop their vehicles in the middle of the roads, jump out and start symbolically sharpening their weapons against the tarmac.
As they did this, they chanted the now familiar DPP war-cry in Malawi’s lingua franca, Chichewa: “Onyoza boma sagona, timpweteka! (“Those opposing government will not sleep, we will deal with them!”).
The vehicles were the official blue open pick-ups complete with the DPP insignia.
This action limited the protests in Blantyre, but those in Lilongwe and Mzuzu took place and were met with a brutal response, with at least 19 deaths, hundreds injured and an unknown number detained.
During the forthcoming PAC conference, economist Henry Kachaje, who is one of President Mutharika’s most acerbic critics, and a University of Malawi speaker will make presentations on how corruption is affecting Malawi economy.
If the economy is suffering from the denial of aid and growth is being held back, then politically, Malawi also appears to be in recession, with a big dip in the democracy index.
Apparently, Ntaba and Mphepo were in the forefront misleading former president late Bingu wa Mutharika.
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The kicks of the dying horse DPP. They think malawians will be cowed just because they will employ their smelly unkempt thugs to threaten people with their machetes?No ways Malawians will not be cowed by this.The baldheaded Ntaba has nothing to offer together with the desperate wanderer Msonda.Dpp do not own Malawi thats for real.Days for intimidation are over.Chikondi sakakamiza.
Mark my words, PAC will not succeed in its agenda to dislodge this government. They can use every nasty and undemocratic way to weaken the DPP but the DPP will come out stronger than before and it will be PAC itself which will be weakened by day. Those people who are vocal are the same people who thought would win the 2014 elections. The cry is still there till 2019, and it will continue till their tears will dry. I feel very sorry when I read some people’s comments who involve God in their battle against the DPP. Is it… Read more »
chances of this meeting taking place without the ruling party are very slim. Boma silivomera kuti msonkhano umenewu uchitike popanda iwowo. Mark my word and read in between the lines. Unless you think its worthy blood shedding, go ahead, but i wish you guys were sober enough to invite and challenge the ruling party in the face if you have issues with them. No invitation is a negative invitation to the national matter of public interest. You can do better PAC.
Kkkkkķkk Koma DPP sizathekanso bwanji
I can see ur days are numbered, no time for intimidation of government critics this time around ,Bwampini the Puppet wakanika!!!!!
KKKK Ife amlakho tikungoziuza izi zi ma stooge zathu za ku central ndi north in the name ntaba, jefrey, jappie and this goat msonda. Anuwake a dpp tili phee!
DPP or any party must know that the days of Kamuzu are gone. People have a right under the Constitution to assemble, criticise, even demonstrate against government.
We certainly need regime change. There must be a recall provision in the constitution and we need a referendum to call for fresh elections.
The July 20 loss of lives will come to haunt the DPP.
DDP should know that power belongs to the people; not them.
So corrupt is this government that it boggles one’s imagination that they feel entitled to continue to embezzle public funds.
Never seen a party so scared as DPP. And Dr. Ntaba; which is the source of your information regarding the 300 or so protesters from Ndirande, Chirimba and Lunzu? If there is to be a repeat of July 2011, DPP will be to blame as, according to Jeffrey, they plan to have the so called cadets standing by armed to the teeth with their machetes. My word of advice to DPP is that the more you talk rubbish through your so called heavy weights, the more you damage your reputation. Malawians are no longer stupid as during the time of… Read more »
Boma salamula ndi zikwanje. I am sure nkhondo imeneyi atimenyala ndi Mulungu. Kodi kulamula amagwililira? Ngakhale chikwati sagwililira. Tikuonela inu. If you know you are performing, then, why are you scared of peoples support. Mwati pa press comference panali ndani? Akweni sananame, enawa abwela kudzaononga chipanichi.
The more DPP (diphiphi) opposes the PAC conference, the more the reason it should be held. Akudziwa komanso akuopa.
DPP, please respect democracy and human rights. Your intimidating attitude over organisation that stands for ordinary Malawians won’t help Malawi as a nation to prosper.