Opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) governor for eastern region Daudi Chikwanje is under fire for uttering provocative remarks ahead of the general elections next year.
Chikwanje who is currently answering charges of insisting violence, reportedly made remarks at a political rally in Machinga that could potentially ignite violence.
In a video clip that has gone viral on social media, Chikwanje rallied people in in the eastern region and DPP sympathisers to start ill treating governing Malawi Congress Party (MCP) members when the go to areas deemed as DPP’s stronghold.
Monitoring on Newstalk programme on Capital Radio recently, a majority of the contributors condemned Chikwanje who is also a parliamentarian.
For example, one of the callers from Lilongwe who identified himself as Mr. Zimba from Lilongwe said: “Honorable Chikwanje should be ashamed himself for what he has spoken. Already stakeholders are trying to preach peace and political tolerance and he is here wooing his party supporters to promote hooliganism. What kind of a leader is he?”
Another one, Chimwemwe Mtundaumodzi from Mwanza said: “People should now question that if leaders are calling their supporters to be violent against others, what more dirty will they do when voted into power? Malawians must wake up and let us not vote for DPP again.
Another participant, Filimoni Khoviwa from Mulanje’s Chinakanaka area condemned the act and said police should arrest everyone who promotes violence to deter would be offenders.
“The police have done well to arrest him [Chikwanje] so that it should set a precedent. We do not want violence during the entire electoral process. Let the law enforcers go flat out to arrest everyone everywhere who is promoting violence. Those who do violence are enemies of our beautiful
Malawi,” fumed Vokhiwa.
Various electoral stakeholder including the MCP have condemned Chikwanje and his party for the unfortunate statement and for being unapologetic to Malawians.
National police spokesperson Peter Kalaya has assured that every violent scene is being investigated and nobody will go unpunished.
