Donors, stakeholders condemn violence

Election stakeholders, including some of Malawi’s donors, the clergy and civil society organisations (CSOs), yesterday called for tolerance and an end to political violence in the run-up to the May 20 Tripartite Elections.

Separate statements by the diplomats, the Malawi Council of Churches (MCC), the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) and the Malawi Electoral Support Network (Mesn), have come in the wake of a fracas at Goliati Trading Centre in Thyolo after President Joyce Banda’s rally where two people died.

The dead are Malawi Police Mobile Service superintendent Cassim Julius and civilian Aaron Sawerengera. Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) journalists also sustained injuries.

According to the statement released on Tuesday, Britain, European Union (EU) Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, United States of America (USA), Norway and United Nations warned that such actions have potential for reprisals.

Reads the statement: “We are deeply disturbed by the deaths of two people and injuries to others at an incident in Thyolo on 16 March [2014] and the potential for tit-for-tat violence. We send our condolences to all those affected. We urge all Malawians to shun violence in this election period and for politicians and the public to focus on the issues that matter to Malawians.”

In its statement, MCC called for peace and mature politics whereas PAC pleaded for adherence to the electoral code of conduct and Mesn warned that violence could scare away voters during the elections.

The three organisations called for investigations into the incidence and that justice should take its course.

Three days after the incident, police say no arrests have been made so far.

Southern Region Police spokesperson Nicholas Gondwa disclosed this yesterday when asked on the progress of the matter.

He said: “We have not made any arrests, but investigations have started.”