By THE OBSERVER UG
Supporters of Malawi’s main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) experienced injuries and vehicle vandalism on Saturday in Lilongwe, the capital, as suspected armed individuals aligned with the governing Malawi Congress Party disrupted their street parade.
DPP officials asserted that the purpose of the street parade was to raise awareness about the significance of registering for the 2025 election and obtaining national identification. However, the event took an unfortunate turn when witnesses reported a truck unloading masked men armed with machetes and other weapons near a gas station where DPP supporters had gathered.
Approximately 25 DPP supporters sustained injuries and were subsequently transported to Kamuzu Central Hospital for treatment. Their current conditions remain unavailable. The assailants also inflicted damage on more than 10 cars belonging to DPP supporters, with some vehicles having their tires stolen.
Levi Luwemba, the deputy national director for operations at the DPP, the party of former president Peter Mutharika, implicated the suspects as supporters of President Lazarus Chakwera’s ruling Malawi Congress Party.
“President Lazarus Chakwera, you should take my word,” warned Luwemba. “You will not bring dictatorship to this country. You will not bring anarchy. You will not bring a one-party state. Malawi voted for multiparty democracy in 1994. We are ready to defend democracy.”
Political analysts view this incident as an ominous sign for the upcoming political campaign period, slated to commence in September for the 2025 elections. This marks the second instance this month in which DPP supporters faced intimidation from suspected MCP supporters.
On February 14, DPP lawmakers canceled planned vigils at Malawi’s parliament after encountering a group of Congress Party supporters carrying equipment that could be utilized as weapons, allegedly pretending to work in areas near where the lawmakers had gathered.
Malawi Congress Party spokesperson Ezekiel Ching’oma, when contacted by VOA, maintained that his party is peaceful and disclaimed responsibility for the violence at the DPP’s street parade. He declined to provide further details, stating that his party would issue a statement on the incident.
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