Whose streets are these?
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) control of public spaces, the sense of entitlement, the impunity which instead of being rebuked is rewarded, is slowly shrinking the political space.
Since the DPP woke up to the realisation that their once blue-eyed ‘boy’ Saulos Chilima is no longer one of them, the party has tried everything in its powers to squeeze and deny Chilima and civil society organisations (CSOs) their right to walk these streets that belong to every Malawian.
The desperation with which the DPP is responding to dissenting views, especially from the CSOs, shows that this is a party that has run out of ideas, political strategy and is ready to sit on the opposition benches.
The recent childish behaviour displayed by DPP in trying to block the CSOs from holding demonstrations, the parallel gatherings they organise wherever Chilima goes, is enough proof that this party takes Malawians for granted.
The spirit of entitlement, as though they own these streets, has to stop. It is becoming embarrassing and shows how petty and clueless DPP is. There are better ways of countering or responding to challengers.
It is quite sad that DPP, a party that claims to be democratic, is in the forefront of denying others their democratic rights. DPP should know better that such tendencies have potential of promoting political violence—the case of the Njamba UTM launch and DPP Kamuzu Upper Stadium music bonanza in which the wise and dynamic leadership of the party’s Southern Region governor, Charles Mchacha thought it was wise to intoxicate people so that they should not attend the UTM rally.
The same, very wise and dynamic Mchacha, thought it was wise for the party to hold a so-called ‘Blue Day March’ on the same day CSOs were expected to hold theirs, in the same city and at almost at the same time and same routes.
If there is no one in DPP who is embarrassed by Mchacha’s political pranks, this is enough reason to kick this party out. This unbecoming behaviour needs to stop.
These streets belong to all Malawians, not a few. These streets belong to all political parties, not just DPP and its cadets. These streets are a political space that should be used by whoever wishes to do so as long as they follow the procedures. Nobody should feel entitled to use them at the expense of others.
