‘Desist from politics of castigation’
Politicians must censor their utterances and desist from using inflammatory language during the electoral period or risk being taken to task, Mangochi Town Council chief executive officer Andrew Misomali has said.
Misomali issued the warning on Tuesday in the district during a Multiparty Liaison Committee (MPLC) organised by the National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust.
The meeting was convened to devise ways of achieving violence-free elections in the district.
Said Misomali: “It is high time politicians stopped using hate speeches that always breed hatred. This is the time when political camps must learn to offer an olive branch to their opponents and jointly enhance democracy.”
He said politicians can hold or conduct violence-free campaigns if all candidates refrain from castigating their opponents during campaign.
“Politicians who turn to inflammatory remarks have nothing to offer the electorate. These politicians de-campaign themselves. They think they can garner more support by tripping naked their fellows. Little do they know that the more they castigate their opponents the more they de-campaign themselves,” observed the chief executive officer.
Nice Trust district civic education officer for Mangochi, Turner Banda, said his organisation, through structures such as MPLC, individual parties, accredited organisations, traditional and faith leaders, will continue sensitising politicians to desist from using inflammatory language.
Traditional Authority (T/A) Chimwala said he is ready to stop politicians who use inflammatory language from campaigning in his area to avoid bloodshed.
“Let us drum up support for politicians who preach issue-based campaign not others who might bring about problems in our jurisdiction,” said Chimwala.
