Practice civilised politics—Police
Police in the North have called on politicians to embark on issue-based politics as one way of preventing violence.
Speaking during a Community Policing Anti-Political Violence Strategy meeting, attended by various political parties and security personnel yesterday, Northern Region Police Commissioner Paul Kanyama said politicians have to offer Malawians hope in their campaigns.
He said some politicians engage in character assassination and violence, thinking they would win hearts of the electorate.
Kanyama said Malawians want leaders who will offer them hope.
He also bemoaned politicians’ tendency of using youths to intimidate opponents.
He said violence compromises efforts to have free and fair elections. Kanyama said the police will ensure that the elections are free and fair by making arrests of those involved in violence and ensuring order.
“Political leaders should manage their youth wings well, they behave like animals. Democracy is not about violence. People who do not understand democracy are the ones who incite violence.
“The youth should be guided in meaningful development. How will the youth be the future leaders if what we teach them is violence?
“Violence is an old way of doing things. We need civilised politics,” said Kanyama.
Mzuzu City chief executive officer Thomas Chirwa said his office has a role in ensuring free and fair elections by properly allocating campaign grounds for political parties.
Good Lord!! This sounds like a complete transformation of our police. My body still shakes with fear when I remember reading about Hon Anita Kalinde being manhandled in full view of our Nyasaland police at Chileka airport to the point that she lost her underwear. I also red about Hon Mlaka Maliro being beaten up by the same DPP cadets in the presence of our own police. I can also remember very well the sad incident at Bunda turn off at the police road block when Hon Mpingajira’s car and those of his entourage were smashed by the young democrats in full view of the police. Actually before the assault took place, the police officers on duty that evening were told that if they want to keep their jobs they should put their guns on the ground and they complied, I couldn’t believe it. By the way Hon Mpinganjira was the NDA president then, the party he formed after crossing paths with Acheya.