Mesn slams Kasambara’s supporters

Malawi Electoral Support Network (Mesn) has condemned the conduct of supporters of former Minister of Justice, Ralph Kasambara, who have  threatened to  bar any member of the ruling People’s Party (PP) from campaigning in Nkhata Bay North West constituency  where he is due to contest as member of Parliament “if government continues to oppress Kasambara.”

Kasambara, who has been arrested twice since he was dropped from Cabinet in October last year, is facing money laundering charges plus attempted murder charge of former budget director Paul Mphwiyo.

But his sympathisers in Nkhata Bay demonstrated against his second arrest, describing it as witch-hunting by the PP government, accusations that government has dismissed. But Mesn chairperson, Steven Duwa, said in an interview with Weekend Nation that the conduct by Kasambara’s supporters is unacceptable and uncivilised.

Said Duwa: “What these supporters say is strange in a democracy. This is unacceptable in a civilised society. The fact that Ralph Kasambara has fallen out with PP does not mean his supporters should declare Nkhata Bay North West Constituency a no go zone area for other political parties, especially PP.”

Duwa said the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has made it clear that nobody should bar any person from campaigning; hence, the tendency portrayed by Kasambara’s supporters is against the guidelines of the electoral process.

Duwa added that for the May 20 electoral process to be fair for everyone, there is need for political party supporters to be tolerant.

Kasambara refused to comment on the issue when Weekend Nation sought his reaction.