By Cathy Maulidi:
Parliament adjourned sine die Friday on the back of a dramatic events that raised security fears among opposition MPs right in the House.
Opposition members cried havoc when some youths, believed to be from the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP), came into Parliament.
First to raise the alarm was Blantyre City South East MP, Sameer Suleman.
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He said he had received reports about some group of people tussling with security at the gate to gain entry.
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“Madam Speaker as one of your members, I want you to guarantee our safety when leaving this House. The MCP operatives led by the party’s Director of Youth are at the gate causing a commotion to come in and they have names of people they want to attack. I’m one of them.
“So I want you Madam Speaker to guarantee my safety that I’m going to leave this building unintimidated, not beaten or attacked. Some are already in the building Madam Speaker.”
In her response, Speaker Catherine Gotani Hara told Suleman that nothing would happen to him or any other member.
“Honourable member, your security is always guaranteed by Parliament; so I don’t think it’s something that we should be….(she paused). Your security is always guaranteed,” Hara said.
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Suleman sat but left the House a few minutes afterwards.
Soon afterwards, other opposition members were seen leaving the House such that Leader of Opposition George Chaponda made his adjournment remarks with only few members on his side.
In an interview later, Suleman said he felt unsafe with the men who at the time had all entered Parliament and were sitting in the visitors’ gallery.
In the gallery, the men whom the Speaker welcomed as Lilongwe vendors would shout ‘Boma ndi Lomweli’ or other such remarks praising the current leadership, a behaviour that the Speaker condemned twice.
“You are not supposed to interfere or take part in the proceedings, please,” she warned.
When Hara announced that they were Lilongwe vendors, the opposition muttered in disagreement.
“Those are not vendors. Ndi anyamata a zikwanje. Mwayambazi kubweretsa chisokonezo mdziko muno. Those are machete boys. You are bringing chaos in this country],” opposition MP Mary Navicha shot back.
Navicha went on to post a Facebook call: ‘Tiikizeni mmapemphero dzikwanje zalowa muno. [Please put us in prayers as machete-armed men are in the House].’
The few opposition members who were still in the House continued to shout in disagreement with the point that the men were vendors.
Speaking during an interview later, Navicha who is MP for Thyolo Thava said:
“It’s unacceptable and unsettling to see individuals who have been known to intimidate and terrorise people during demonstrations now present in the parliament building. Their presence is not only intimidating but also raises questions about their intentions.
“Who were they looking for, and what proceedings were they interested in? It’s clear that these individuals are not ordinary vendors, but rather people who have been known to carry pangas and threaten others during demonstrations,” she said.
As the men tussled with security at the gate, it was MCP’s Director of Youth Steve Baba Malondera who negotiated with security for their entry.
Malondera told Malawi News that he helped the men get into Parliament because just like any other Malawian, they too have the right to get into the House and follow proceedings.
“Yes, I helped some people at the gate to gain entry, and they were a mix of vendors and councillors from the central region. I’m still trying to understand why the opposition is claiming they felt threatened. None of these individuals said or did anything threatening.
“The truth is these individuals are Malawians with the right to observe parliamentary proceedings, just like anyone else. I have seen posts and heard comments from opposition MPs expressing feelings of intimidation, but I’m unclear what specifically made them feel that way. The gallery had numerous guests today, all of whom were there to observe the proceedings,” he said.
The road to the next year’s elections seems to be strewn by symbols of violence.
DPP MP Victor Musowa has come under criticism this week. He is being accused of inciting violence against MCP through the remarks he made at a rally in Ndirande Township calling on people to chase away anyone who come into the area shouting MCP slogans.
Musowa’s statement came about three weeks after MCP official and Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu had his convoy stoned in the township.
Earlier this month, panga-wielding thugs twice foiled demonstrations in Lilongwe.
In February, they hacked some DPP members and damaged their vehicles at Mbowe in Lilongwe as the party prepared for its parade in the city.
