Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) deputy secretary general (SG) Daud Chikwanje Monday drew fire from the governing Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and political commentators over the alleged pro-violent remarks he made at Nsanama in Machinga District at the weekend.
Police have since arrested Chikwanje over the remarks.
National police spokesperson Peter Kalaya said the arrest followed remarks Chikwanje allegedly made at a political event where he is suspected of encouraging party members to set ablaze people found in MCP regalia.
“We arrested Honourable Chikwanje and we are charging him with proposing violence, which is against Section 86 of the penal code,” Kalaya said.
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Kalaya told The Daily Times yesterday that the Machinga Central East legislator would be taken to court by the end of yesterday.
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He warned politicians to refrain from making sensitive statements as the country prepares for the September 16 2025 Local Government, Parliamentary and Presidential Elections.
In a video clip that went viral Monday, Chikwanje was seen telling DPP followers to burn those who will be seen wearing MCP attire in the area, alleging that MCP supporters were Satanists.
According to a clip of what Chikwanje allegedly said, in the past, Nsanama used to have strong boys who could not allow people to wear MCP regalia in the area.
“It could not have happened. Are you sure Nsanama has ended like this, to the point that you allow other people to start bringing trouble here. Let’s start biting,” Chikwanje said.
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Briefing reporters in Lilongwe yesterday, MCP secretary general Richard Chimwendo Banda slammed Chikwanje’s alleged remarks, saying they had the potential to stoke violence in Malawi.
“That’s not acceptable. Malawians are one people and politics must not separate them,” Chimwendo Banda said.
He further asked DPP leader Peter Mutharika to publicly condemn the incident.
Chimwendo Banda also asked MCP members not to retaliate, saying he would fire any party executive members who would be promoting violence even before consulting party leader Lazarus Chakwera.
Meanwhile, political analyst George Phiri has said violence has no place in modern-day politics, describing the tactics by the DPP as archaic.
He described democracy as a marketplace for ideas.
“Politicians should be competing on ideas and not violence,” Phiri said.
Another political analyst, George Chaima, said peace must be promoted in all political endeavours.
Commenting on the development, DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba said violence could not be accepted, such that it had to be condemned.
“Our party, unlike MCP, firmly believes in the principles of democracy and the idea that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. This is what sets us apart and makes us stand out as a responsible and fair political party.
“It is disheartening to hear that Honourable Chimwendo Banda, during his press conference, openly admitted to having the power to dismiss anyone without the knowledge of the President or National Executive Committee.
“This is not how the DPP operates. If he truly holds such supreme powers, why has he not used them to fire his own president, Dr Chakwera, who made threats that he would shed blood if he did not win the 2019 general elections?” Namalomba said.
He added that as a party, they demand justice for the brutal beating of their supporters at Mbowe Filling, adding that they urge MCP not to shield the perpetrators from arrest.
