VP chides chaotic DPP supporters
Vice-President Saulos Chilima yesterday expressed dismay at the conduct of some Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) youth cadets in Karonga who disrupted his relief items distribution exercise to people affected by floods.
The Vice-President, who is also Minister responsible for Disaster Management Affairs, was in Karonga North where he met people affected by floods.
But supporters of incumbent legislator, Vincent Ghambi, and those of an aspiring candidate, Mungasulwa Mwambande, kept on chastising each other.
Immediately Chilima arrived at the first site at Kasantha at around 9:30am, two warring factions for Ghambi and Mwambande emerged. They both wanted to show each other’s prowess and political muscle, singing songs that contained vulgar language.
With all of them clad in DPP regalia, it was an internal battle.
The heavy police presence failed to control the chanting most of the times. Even director of women for DPP in the North, Joyce Chikukula, unsuccessfully attempted to quell the situation.
Ghambi visibly worsened the situation when, in his speech, said he was the best the constituency has and that his rival’s supporters were practising childish politics.
He said: “This is time of grief, not for politicking, there is time for politics and this is not that time.”
Paramount Chief Kyungu, who briefly spoke at the event, called for unity and a stop to the politicking.
The appeal was briefly respected, but when Chilima stood to speak, supporters of the two factions resumed their vulgar songs.
Throughout the Vice-President’s 11-minute speech at Kasantha, police were busy trying to quell the situation, but the cadets rendered a deaf ear to them, until it was time to disperse for Kaporo area, a second place where Chilima met the victims.
Having endured at Kasantha and a better part at Kaporo, Chilima chided the cadets for their irresponsible and embarrassing behaviour.
He said: “This is not time for fun. It is not party time. It is time for those affected by this disaster.”
Unlike at other government functions where senior DPP leaders in the North attend, the event was just attended by Masebo, Chikukula and deputy governor North Smart Mwakayira as well as Kifwene Mwakalenga, governor of Karonga District.
