MCP, UTM meet police over electoral violence

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and UTM Party officials on Tuesday met Southern Region Police officials to complain about electoral violence and alleged registration of minors in the region.

The two-hour closed-door meeting took place at Southern Region Police Headquarters and was attended by MCP campaign director Moses Kunkuyu, UTM director of youth Bon Kalindo and Commissioner of Police (South) Sladge Yusuf, among other officials.

In an interview after the meeting, Kunkuyu said some of the complaints they lodged with the police included the beating of UTM Party and MCP monitors in Thyolo and the destruction of National Registration Bureau (NRB) kits during voter registration in Blantyre last month.

However, he said they could not say whether they were satisfied with the talks.

Said Kunkuyu: “Responses can be calculated, but we can say that the responses that we got, we have reached a page that is newer than the ones we have been operating on. So, to say satisfied, I reserve my comment.”

However, according to him, police assured them that they will beef up security in areas where monitors are being harassed and that when such incidents occur, they will move in quickly to quell the violence.

Yusuf was not available for comment after the meeting.

But Southern Region Police spokesperson Ramsey Mushani said they will look into the issues presented by the two parties and act accordingly.

He said: “I cannot [tell you] what we have agreed because if we wanted it to be that way, we could have called for a press briefing. But suffice to say they brought their issues and we have discussed. So, on our part, we are going to act as they want.”

On Saturday and Sunday, unknown assailants beat MCP and UTM monitors at Luchenza and Chisawi Primary School at Bvumbwe in Thyolo District.

The attackers reportedly arrived at the two centres in four vehicles; two Toyota Fortuners and two Ford Rangers with no registration numbers.

In a separate interview, Thyolo Police Station spokesperson Amos Thole confirmed about the incidents, but said it was too early to say what steps they have taken as investigations are underway.

In an earlier interview, governance commentator Rafiq Hajat said the escalating cases of violence, if not addressed quickly, will cause havoc in the country.