Political parties warned to stop celebrating huge crowds at rallies

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Political parties in this country have been warned that they should not take the crowds of poor Malawians that attend their rallies seriously as they can give them wrong assumption.

One of the local social commentators Stanley Onjezani Kenani has said this following massive self-appraisals by parties such as Malawi Congress Party (MCP), United Democratic Front (UDF) and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Stanley Kenani
Kenani: Warns crowds could give a false image to parties.

According to Kenani, showing up at a rally is not an indication that someone is in support of the party but sometimes people attend these rallies to waste their time and for those in villages, as part of entertainment.

“The ruling DPP is boasting about its crowds. The opposition MCP is showing off its crowds. Even the UDF has joined in to showcase its crowds.

“What everyone forgets: there is almost no entertainment in the villages. When they hear someone important is coming to address them, especially names they hear on the radio, they go to hear him out. Merely showing up at the rally is not an endorsement of or an expression of support for the speaker,” says the former Malawi Writers Union President.

Kenani has added that most of what leaders of these political parties tell people are lies and since most Malawians are now civilised they know that they are being deceived.

“What is important is the message. The people in the village are not dull. They know when you are telling them lies. They know when you are making promises you have no intention of keeping.

“So, as we try to outdo each other in bragging about our crowds, it would be helpful to remember that in the villages there is very little entertainment,” concluded Kenani.