Vice-President Saulos Chilima’s security vehicle, which carried about 10 police officers, was on Thursday involved in a road accident near Khomba Trading Centre in Ntcheu, injuring some of the second citizen’s bodyguards.
The accident compelled Chilima, who is also UTM Party leader and running mate of the Tonse Alliance in the fresh presidential election, to cancel all his whistle-stop tours and political rallies planned for Ntcheu this week.
In an interview last evening, UTM Party director of publicity Joseph Chidanti-Malunga confirmed both the accident and the indefinite cancellation of political rallies.
According to Malunga, a police vehicle ferrying Chilima’s security detail overturned at Khomba and the survivors were rushed to Balaka District Hospital for treatment. He, however could not state the condition of the police officers.
He said: “We helped to carry the wounded to Balaka Hospital. So, the state Vice-President has cancelled his whistle-stop tour in Ntcheu to attend to the patients.”
According to a schedule we have seen, Chilima was today expected to have whistle-stop rallies at Mdzawira, Bayani, Tsalabande, Jumbe, Likudzi, Kunyungwi School and Ligowe and Kambala grounds in Ntcheu South Constituency
Tomorrow, Chilima was expected to be at Zirilongwe, Nkhudzi School, Bawi and Kwataine grounds in Ntcheu Central Constituency. While in Ntcheu North-East, the Vice-President was expected to stop at Nsunduliza School before holding a main rally at Ganya School ground.
Efforts to speak to Balaka Police spokesperson Felix Misomali and his deputy Precious Makuta proved futile as their phones could not be reached on several attempts.
