MCP’s Sidik Mia teargased in Blantyre
Police fired teargas to disperse a crowd at an impromptu meeting by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Vice President Sidik Mia in Blantyre.
He met curios vendors at their place of work in the city but before he could address them, police invaded the place and fired teargas canisters although there were no violence scenes at the place.
Addressing journalists at his office later after the incident, Mia described the act as a shame.
“This is unfortunate. We are a democratic country and people should be free to assemble. There was no violence and the police did not even warn the people that they should leave. Without any prior warning they just came and started firing teargas. That was very unprofessional,” he said.
He said as a law abiding citizen, he would have left the market peacefully if police had told him to do so adding, that MCP remains focused to take over power next year and that he will not be intimidated.
The police could not explain why they fired teargas on people who had gathered peacefully at their place of work.
Blantyre Police spokesperson Augustus Nkhwazi referred us to Southern Region Headquarters spokesperson Ramsey Mshane, who claimed was yet to get more information on the ground.
“What you are saying really happened. The teargas was fired but I do not know what happened. I am yet to get more information from someone on the ground,” he said.
Before meeting the curios vendors, Mia met Blantyre Market Vendors at Kings Table Gardens where he distributed party cloth.
During the meeting, Mia said if elected to power MCP will ensure that there is equitable distribution of government businesses among all Malawians including small scale traders.
“Every year, K300 billion worth of business is shared just among few individuals. You can also supply food to prisons, police and army. You too can supply stationery to government. MCP will give that businesses to everyone even to you,” he said.
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