Peter asks JB to withdraw accusation

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) president Peter Mutharika yesterday asked  President Joyce Banda to withdraw her accusation that the DPP presidential hopeful attended a mass at a church near the venue the President addressed a rally in Thyolo East Constituency.

During her meeting with traditional leaders from Thyolo at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre on Wednesday, the President blamed Mutharika of being behind the violence that claimed lives of a police officer and a civilian at Goliati Trading Centre in Thyolo, home to Mutharika.

The President said Mutharika insisted that he should attend a mass at a church near the venue.

But addressing a press conference at his Nyambadwe residence in Blantyre last evening, Mutharika said he was not a member of the Catholic Church; hence, could not attend a mass.

He said he visited the church in the afternoon of the day the President was referring to because he was asked by the parish priest to help with iron sheets.

The DPP president said that much as his party does not condone what happened, it was the People’s Party (PP) that provoked the situation by firstly removing his party’s flags.

During the briefing, DPP secretary general Jean Kalilani read a statement condemning the violence, but at the same time accusing PP of provoking the situation.