Violence marred a solidarity rally conducted by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President Lazarus Chakwera, Alliance for Democracy’s (Aford) Enock Chihana and People’s Party’s vice president for the North Kamlepo Kalua at Chibavi in Mzuzu on Sunday.
The rally turned into a battle field and bloodshed became order of the day when young men armed with pangas invaded the venue just few minutes after Chakwera’s arrival.
The situation got out of hand when body guards for the three leaders fought back in defence of their bosses which saw two of the bodyguards being hacked in the process but managed to seize three brand new pangas from the perpetrators which Chihana showed to the crowd when delivering his speech.
Surprisingly, there was no police presence at the rally despite MCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwila confirming to have booked them in advance. Kabwila blamed the police for taking sides.
Despite the pangas flying all over the place, Chakwera still looked composed and took to the podium where he condemned the violence and wondered why the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has opted for combative style of politics.
“I condemn whatever has happened today without any hesitation, perpetrators of such kind of brutality should have no place in this country and my message to them [DPP] is instead of buying pangas for people to hurt others they better use that money to buy them food,” said Chakwera.
“I never expected people of Mzuzu to possess elements that succumb to being used to harm and hurt fellow Malawians. In a democratic dispensation like ours, every Malawian must be protected regardless of the political party that they support,” he added.
Chakwera who is also leader of opposition in Parliament then said the opposition will not be intimidated by the violence which he said is a desperate attempt by government to prevent them from updating Malawians on what transpired in the august house during the recent sitting.
“As opposition parties, we have rallied together, we want to liberate Malawians from the snares of poverty, illiteracy and most importantly the stinging hunger crisis being experienced,” he explained.
Tensions started building up earlier in the day when over 15 young men went and vandalised the podium and an MCP minibus leading into a fracas which saw three people being admitted at Mzuzu Central Hospital.
But speaking in an interview, MCP Regional Publicity Secretary Burton Phiri said other than DPP the party also suspects former PP’s Provincial Chairperson Reverend Christopher Mzomera Ngwira to be behind the violence saying he did not want the party’s supporters at the meeting.
However, Ngwira said his implication is not a surprise to him and blamed MCP leadership for bringing along some PP members with them in the wake of the in-house fighting.
“If Chakwera was wise he could have realised that there is tension amongst ourselves in PP. He was not supposed to bring Kamlepo there because he is not a legit leader for PP. I even told Harry Mkandawire not to attend the rally but he defied my advice and even spoke. What do you want us to do as PP?” Ngwira queried.
But PP’s spokesperson Ken Msonda concurred with Chakwera and said DPP masterminded the scuffle and warned Ngwira against tarnishing the party’s image since he was fired.
However, government spokesperson Jappie Mhango, said government has no hand in the violence arguing that it is busy running the country’s affairs.
“MCP was already known for violence through Young Pioneer, PP fights almost every month, why are you surprised with pangas? We are clean on the matter and let them continue fighting while we are busy developing the country,” Mhango said.
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