By Vincent Gunde
The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has described the recent harassment of women wearing MCP attire in Blantyre as unacceptable and must be strongly condemned.
Some MCP women in Machinjiri-Blantyre wearing MCP attires are being seen blocked by a group of youth not to board a minibus to take them to Nguludi-Chiladzulu for the Commemoration of Reverend John Chilembwe Day, the pictures are circulating in various media platforms with some chanting Chikangawa! Chikangawa! Chikangawa!
The DPP says Malawi is a country that upholds civil rights and liberties and it is the duty of the police to protect its citizens calling for the perpetrators to be swiftly apprehended just as the party is expecting the police to arrest those responsible for the hacking of DPP members in Mponela, Mbowe Filling Station and Lilongwe Community Centre ground.
In a statement signed by DPPs National Publicity Secretary Shadric Namalomba dated 15th January, 2025 the DPP says it does not condone any form of lawlessness despite Malawi Congress Party’s (MCP) attempt to shift blame on to the party, saying they are not responsible for these acts.
“It is the MCP that should take accountability for creating an environment of intimidation and harassment towards those with different opinions, this is a well-known fact, as confirmed by the recent statement from the Public Affairs Committee (PAC).
A Malawi Congress Party (MCP) diehard of Mvera in Dowa district Mr. Rodgers Kamphangala, has advised the MCP to be always prepared for what happened in Blantyre will be happening elsewhere in the country and if the police can be called to arrest such perpetrators, many Malawians will find themselves in prison.
Kamphangala said even in Lilongwe itself, MCP women are forcing themselves to carry MCP attires in travelling bags in fear of being harassed by other people who chant in front of them Chikangawa! Chikangawa! Chikangawa Party!
He said women clad in MCP attires are so embarrassed when passing through a group of people than women wearing other party’s materials observing that all this is originating from the party’s lack of truth and justice on the tragic plane crash that killed Dr. Saulosi Chilima and eight others, in the Chikangawa forest on Monday, 10th June, 2024.
“It is sad that some people have changed MCP to Chikangawa Party, shadow Members of Parliament (MPs) and councilors wanting to stand for MCP ticket in the urban centres, should bless themselves to be crowned with the name Chikangawa Party in their campaign for votes,” said Kamphangala.
