Rigging impossible, say Chakwera, Chilima
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president, Lazarus Chakwera—who is also torchbearer of Tonse Alliance—and his running mate Saulos Chilima have charged that no one will tamper with votes in the forthcoming presidential election.
The two stormed Mzuzu Sunday where they held a political rally where they said the votes will be highly protected.
They also urged Malawians to turn up in large numbers to vote despite threats and violence that have characterised the preparation of the July 2 presidential election.
The Supreme Court on Friday ordered that Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) should use the 2019 voters roll for the presidential election.
And the leaders of the Tonse Alliance, which has seven other parties including People’s, Umodzi, Mafunde, Petra, People’s Progressive Movement and Freedom, said no one will tamper with the voters’ roll.
Chilima said Malawians should not be bothered by rumours that some people want to torch Mec regional offices, saying the alliance already has information contained in the offices.
“The 2019 voters roll will not be tampered with; we already have it. We can even print out copies of the same if they wish,” he challenged.
Over 6.8 million Malawians registered in the previous elections out of which 5.1 million voted.
Chakwera said the alliance has lined up several development projects for the Northern Region including an airport and completion of road constructions.
“Apart from introducing the universal fertiliser subsidy programme, over 1.5 million vulnerable farmers will be given free fertiliser. The aim is to have food all year, and trust me the persistent hunger that we always have will go,” Chakwera said.
On her part, former president Joyce Banda, who is also leader of Peoples Party condemned the torching of UTM offices in Area 22 in Lilongwe where a family of seven sustained burns with two members losing their lives later.
Banda has since called for clean politics, stressing that political party leaders should sell their agenda as opposed to perpetuating violence.
Chilima bemoaned political violence and what he called threats to his life, saying he will not hesitate to lodge a complaint with the International Criminal Court.
Tonse Alliance is expected to hold its second regional rally in Lilongwe on Sunday.
