Minister Vitumbiko Mumba has come out strongly to refute claims that he was behind the violent scenes that marred the primary elections in Mzimba Central Constituency.
Taking to his Facebook page, Mumba described the accusations as a complete distortion of the truth, alleging that it was, in fact, his political opponents who sponsored the violence.
He stated that while fingers were pointed at him for orchestrating the disruption, the actual perpetrators were those within the ruling establishment who hired thugs to create chaos during what he described as a “staged” electoral process.
To support his point, Mumba referenced images circulating online, including some posted by The Nation Online, showing scenes of unrest during the primaries.
He also highlighted a video clip featuring a female councillor, who is seen filming herself amidst the commotion while making comments in Tumbuka suggesting Mumba’s involvement.
However, Mumba questioned the logic of the video, pointing out that the same woman is later heard instructing others not to throw stones yet, adding that “the time is not yet right” — raising suspicions that the whole incident was premeditated and recorded for manipulation.
He further claimed that this councillor’s actions appear to have been rewarded, as she has now been appointed to a position on the board of the Blantyre Water Board — an act Mumba sees as compensation for political loyalty rather than merit.
This, according to Mumba, is not an isolated tactic.
He recalled a similar scenario during protests by Mzuzu Vendors, where panga-wielding men were sent to sow disorder under the pretense of opposing him.
However, Mumba said that attempt backfired when the vendors held a press conference to disassociate themselves from the violence and named senior MCP officials as the masterminds behind the scheme.
He concluded his statement with a sense of optimism, emphasizing that despite the coordinated smear campaigns, the truth always finds a way to surface.
His closing message was clear and resolute: #LightAlwaysConquersDarkness.
