By Vincent Gunde
A voice of the voiceless citizen of Malawi Comrade Alhaji Imraan Jumbe, says it is deeply disturbing that as the DPP was set to launch its 2025 manifesto and campaign, the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) – a public broadcaster funded by taxpayers completely ignored covering the event.
Comrade Jumbe says even more alarming, was the interference with Zodiak Broadcasting Station’s signal allegedly orchestrated through MACRA under the influence of its Director General Daudi Suleiman and MCP operatives.
He says the intention was clear; to block citizens across the country from hearing the DPPs 2025 manifesto launch and campaign saying this is not politics, this is abuse of power, a dangerous drift toward authoritarianism.
Writing on his face book page, Comrade Jumbe says using government machinery to silence the opposition is not only shameful, it undermines the credibility of the country’s democracy saying the incident must be reported to the Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec).
Comrade Jumbe has expressed fears that if national broadcasters and regulatory institutions are being manipulated to favor the ruling party in government, in this official campaign period, then, the ground is no longer level, saying the 2025 elections risk being fundamentally compromised.
“Democracy thrives on fairness, transparency, equal access, MCP must stop this sabotage, the people of Malawi are watching, and they will not tolerate dictatorship in disguise,” reads Jumbe’s writings on the wall.
Political activist Bon Kalindo has warned opposition parties that MACRA is working against them as evidenced with network interruptions which marred the DPP 2025 manifesto launch and campaign in Blantyre observing that radios and TVs were affected.
Kalindo said the only rally which was not affected with network interruptions was the MCP campaign rally addressed by Vitumbiko Mumba and Richard Chimwendo Banda in Ntchisi on the Times Television saying they are doing it deliberately for the voters not to listen to opposition manifestos.
He has warned opposition parties that Mec is not ready to preside over free and fair 2025 elections claiming that for the first time, Mec is conducting interviews for Presiding Officers alleging that the questionnaire on multiple choice was distributed to all MCP forums speaking for itself that Presiding Officers will be for the MCP.
“Interviews for Presiding Officers to only pick up MCP loyalists to man polling stations so that MCP rigging scheme is implemented smoothly,” said Kalindo.
On a sad note, Kalindo has again warned the DPP to take security of Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika a priority claiming that Mutharika is making the MCP sleepless nights saying it was the wish of the MCP to see to it that the DPP goes to the 2025 elections without a presidential candidate.
“I am dreaming of the assassins from another country planning to do the evil thing in Malawi ahead of this election, please tighten up security for Mutharika and all other opposition party leaders,” he said.
