Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday cancelled a planned victory rally President Peter Mutharika was scheduled to address at Njamba Freedom Park in Blantyre.
DPP spokesperson Nicholas Dausi, in a telephone interview yesterday, confirmed the cancellation, saying the party wanted more time to prepare.
“It is a normal cancellation. We thought we need to make proper arrangements so it has been shifted to a later date,” he said.
During his acceptance speech after being sworn in as President on Tuesday at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, Mutharika announced that the party would convene a meeting to thank its supporters for the re-election.
The planned rally was announced at a time there were incidents of violence by groups of people, mostly linked to opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), protesting the declaration of Mutharika as winner of the presidential race.
Inspector General of Police Rodney Jose last week warned anyone inciting violence that they would face police action as the law enforcers were alert to ensure the country continue to enjoy peace and calm.
On Friday, UTM Party led by Saulos Chilima, the country’s immediate past vice-president who fell out with Mutharika, asked the High Court in Lilongwe seeking the nullification of the presidential poll results.
The same day, MCP president Lazarus Chakwera, who finished second in the presidential race, announced that the party would seek legal redress for the court to invalidate the presidential election results.
