MCP accuses DPP of torching Mia’s office
By Taonga Sabola & Wezzie Gausi:
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has accused Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of having a hand in the torching of offices belonging to MCP Vice-President Muhammad Sidik Mia.
But DPP has distanced itself from the acts of arson saying it is unfortunate for anybody to accuse it of the act without bringing evidence.
Unidentified people in the wee hours of Friday torched the offices in Blantyre, damaging furniture and documents.
Speaking in Lilongwe Friday, MCP Secretary General Eisenhower Mkaka said the party is shocked by continued tendencies by DPP to torch property belonging to MCP and its top officials.
According to Mkaka, DPP recently set on fire MCP Southern Region Headquarters as well as truck belonging to one of the party’s top officials.
DPP Cadets have also come under fire in recent weeks of being behind the vandalism of property during peaceful demonstrations organised by Human Rights Defenders Coalition.
Mia, who accompanied Mkaka, could not indicate the value of the property gutted by fire Friday.
But briefing reporters in Lilongwe Friday, DPP’s Publicity Secretary Nicholas Dausi said the party is not part of the demonstrations saying most of the things destroyed in the demonstrations belong to party members.
“DPP has suffered greatly since the results of May 21 General Elections, members of the party have experienced great loss.
“Businesses have been destroyed, party followers beaten and those from Southern Region are not living freely in Central Region, so to be labelled that our cadets are the ones destroying property is out of order,” Dausi said.
He said DPP is a peace-loving party and they cannot go on the streets and start vandalising property as one of the party’s pillars is development.
DPP Secretary General Grezelda Jeffrey said MCP should apologise to the country for being in the forefront organising demonstrations that have resulted in destruction of people’s property.
Jeffry said they strongly condemn the habit of involving the party in things they don’t know about.
“We have had the director of youth in Northern Region beaten and the burning of Grace Obama Chiumia’s property. Do you think it’s our own doing?
“Our quietness should not be mistaken that we cannot bring our supporters to the streets. We have many followers, more than those that you saw at the just-ended demonstration that we can bring to the street even tomorrow but we have chosen to remain quiet for peace to rein,” Jeffrey said.
She said, as the party, they are waiting for the court to give its judgment on May 21 elections.
Recently, unidentified gang petrol-bombed MCP regional head offices in the South.
Malawi held tripartite elections on May 21 this year but the polls produced contested results that have thrust the country into turmoil.
