By Jameson Chauluka & Feston Malekezo:
The Public Affairs Committee (Pac) and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) have condemned the assault on UTM’s director of youth and Mulanje South Member of Parliament Bon Kalindo.
Kalindo was on Wednesday assaulted by some unidentified youths suspected to be members of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
However, the party has distanced itself from the attack.
In a statement co-signed by Pac Chairperson Reverend Felix Chingota and Publicity Secretary Fr Peter Mulomole, Pac says the attack on Kalindo and other acts of violence against people of different political views is a sign of panic among politicians as the country draws towards the May tripartite elections.
“Combined with the pattern of violent acts against those with divergent views and similar acts during primaries, it is evident that a culture of political violence continues to gain currency in Malawi. The beating of Hon Bon Kalindo confirms that political violence will be one of the survival mechanisms in the 2019 race. Should this pattern and stiff competition continue in the current race, it is in our political optics that such political violent acts may even target presidential candidates as various political parties salivate for power in the highest office,” reads the statement in part.
Pac cited violence in last year’s by-elections in Mulanje, the torching of UTM vehicles in Mangochi, an attack on Mulanje West parliamentarian Patricia Kaliati at Parliament building and the assault of a person wearing Malawi Congress Party colours in Blantyre as some of the regrettable acts of violence in the run up to the elections.
MCP secretary general, Eisenhower Mkaka said the assault on Kalindo defeats principles of democracy.
“What is happening is unfortunate and must be condemned in the strongest terms. In democracy, we differ in terms of policy and, when we do that, it does not mean we are enemies. We are Malawians first and we need to cherish this,” he said.
Mkaka accused the Malawi Police Service of administering selective justice by not apprehending perpetrators of violence who have links to the ruling party.
He, among other examples, cited an incident in Mzuzu where MCP supporters were attacked in the presence of their leader Lazarus Chakwera but the case has stalled.
“What we hear these days about the case [where MCP supporters were beaten up] is that files went missing. When victims are from the opposition, the police grow cold feet; but, when it comes to do with the ruling party, they [police] are quick to act,” he said.
However, national police spokesperson, James Kadadzera, said police are there for everyone and people should be assured of safety.
“Just recently, the Inspector General [of Police Rodney Jose] had an interface with secretaries general of all political parties where he assured them of safety regardless of their political affiliation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kalindo Thursday claimed that medical examination showed that he had a blood clot in the brain due to severe blows that resulted into internal bleeding.
Kalindo is among a group of politicians who defected from the DPP to form UTM which Vice- President Saulos Chilima leads.
Kalindo’s attack comes barely two days after he was released from prison on bail for allegedly insulting President Peter Mutharika.
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