Zikhale implicates Nankhumwa, Mpinganjira in DPP violence: Defence minister dismisses claims as ‘petty politics’
Nkhata Bay South legislator Ken Zikhale Ng’oma (Malawi Congress Party-MCP) has implicated Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Kondwani Nankhumwa and deputy minister of defence Chipiliro Mpinganjira as architects of the violence which Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) cadets unleashed to thwart a planned Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) march in Blantyre on Wednesday.
Zikhale Ng’oma made the accusation in the National Assembly on Thursday that he had eveidence that Nankhumwa who was opening the 16th National Agriculture Fair when the violence occurred, was talking with Mpinganjira on the attacks on HRDC.
But Mpinganjira rising on a point of order challenged Zikhale to “furnish the House” with his evidence.
“It is petty politics,” said Mpinganjira.
He admitted that he was at the opening the 16th National Agriculture Fair because he is a legislator of Blantyre City Centre and talked to Nankhumwa but wondered how one can claim they were discussing about violence.
“I demand that he must furnish evidence of what he has alleged,” said Mpinganjira, a trained lawyer and son of veteran politician Brown Mpinganjira.
Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani said Zikhale should substantiate his claims with evidence which he claims to have.
“We can only judge if it is petty after he tenders his evidence,” said Madam Speaker.
Zikhale insisted the violence had a blessing of DPP top brass, saying the culprits were “clad in DPP T-shirts written Kondwani Nankhumwa, why is it that no one has been arrested? We expect the Minister of Agriculture to apologise for this.”
Minister of Homeland Security Nicholas Dausi on Thursday delivering a ministerial statement on the violence that left five people, including human rights activist Billy Mayaya, injured, faulted HRDC for allegedly organising a march without notifying Malawi Police Service (MPS) and Blantyre City Council 48 hours in advance as provided in the Police Act.
Dausi said Police and Malawi Defence Force (MDF) went to Kamuzu Stadium upper ground and made impromptu security arrangements upon learning that the demonstrators had assembled to march and to petition Electoral Commissions Forum on Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) Member States to remove Malawi Electoral Commission chairperson Jane Ansah as its president.
Said the minister: “A team of some senior police officers persuaded them not to proceed to Sunbird Mount Soche. The fear, Madam Speaker, was that they would endanger the international and local delegates attending this important meeting.
“They [protesters] were requested that since they had already gathered, very few people would be allowed to take their petition to an official from the Sadc meeting at Clock Tower and not Sunbird Mount Soche.”
Dausi said the demonstrators “were slightly below 200 in number” and were foiled near Chichiri Trade Fair Grounds where Minister oNankhumwa was opening the Agriculture Fair.
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Did the DPP cadets give 48 hour notice, you idiot of a minister? Between the two demonstrations which was was legal? HRDC gave notice of their intentions to deliver a petition while these untouchable DPP ruffians did not.
Dpp you dont know Politiks 🔥🔥diktatorship will not help you inna dis era 😄😄am telling you 🙂🙂l feel sorry for you young guyz who are being used by these old wicked pipo the world iz moving fast and you are busy playing politics of 1945 🔥wise up or else don’t regret when tingz get worse
PAMENEPA NANKHUMWA CHIKUMUKHUZA NDI CHANI?
GALU IWEYO PALIBENSO SCHOOL APO PITA UKAFUNSE PITA
Wina asamatchule za Catholic Church pano ngatisiukuwadziwa bwino Amene aja ndie ndi oooopsa Uzichita za iwowo ngati ukufuna ubwenzi ndi N’DYELEKEZI
A Dausi Kodi ku operations ya MDF inakutherani bwanji?inu anangokulakwirani osakuonesani kkkkkkkkk
One day is one day
Though the beating of Mayaya is regrettable but it has managed to bring peace. Agalu amenewa apatsidwa mwayi kwambiri kuchita zopusa zawozo. we are fed up with their nosense. We people from the south want our peace and if you want you can demonstrate in the centre and north for the next 4.5 years while we will be busy doing business.
China my brother/sister. The problem is Chipi Mpinganjira by Nyasa Times reporter for not doing his work to know exactly what Chipi is. This is the problem of having security guards practising journalism.
If they were less than 200 then right to beat them up. Afterall the majority may have travelled from Lilongwe with hrdc chair for the Central region billy mayaya. Nuisance
koma umbuli winau,to demonstrate it does not chose where to demonstrate as long as you want to do so
This is undemocratic party and end of the road for dpp. With evidence MCP has in court get prepared tough time dpp