MCP civil war intesifies: Detained ‘bomb’ suspect claims ‘there is external force’

Malawi Congress Party (MCP)   internal struggles continue,   Isaac Jere, who is in police custody in connection to arson attempts on party headquarters in  Lilongwe City Centre, has mentioned claimed several political big are sponsoring terror in the country.

MCP security detail on Sunay  afternoon detained seven men and three women suspected to have been on a mission to petrol bomb the party’s headquarters in Lilongwe who include Jere.

When officers at Lilongwe Police interrogated Jere on the arson plans, he said many politicians – even those who do not belong to the patrty –  are now involved in the MCP squabbles and would want to benefit from it.

The group was ferried to City Centre and given instructions to invade the premises and ransack it using petrol bombs and metal bars. They were allegedly found in possession of pangas, a petrol jerrycan and a bag of maize.

Some members have changed the storyline after their arrest saying they were going to the offices to hold a vigil calling for unity in the party.

According to police sources, Jere is  also being investigated as one of the people who were also sent by Chakwera camp to burn Kabwila’s car some weeks ago.

MCP deputy secretary-general Eisenhower Mkaka said the party received intelligence reports that there was a plot to petrol bomb its headquarters, saying political competitors are creating divisions and wants to attribute violence to internal squabbles.

He said within the rank and file of MCP, there was no problem but those being bribed to cause confusion.

“We know pretty well of  an external ‘invisible hand’ that is fuelling the squabbles in MCP,” said Mkaka.

MCP president and leader of opposition is being challenged by his detractors in the party  to call for a convetion to elect new leaders  and some have obtained court orders to  challenge  ‘unconstitutional’ appointments made by Chakwera in the national executive committee (NEC).

Meanwhile,  Central Region Police spokesperson Ramsy Mushani  has said the ‘petrol bombers’ have since been remanded at the Lilongwe Police Station in Area 3, where their statements, and those of senior party officials, were taken on Sunday night.

He said investigations were in progress.