Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) parliamentary aspirant for Chikwawa South Constituency Iryas Abdul Karim has deplored politics of castigation and hatred which he said has resulted to clashes between MCP and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supporters in the constituency.
Karim’s remarks following political violence that occurred last weekend between his supporters and followers of DPP contender Gerald Viola.
However, both Viola and Iryas Karim have accused each other of instigating the violence between their supporters.
On Saturday, followers of MCP and DPP engaged in heavy fighting at Sangwe Trading centre when the MCP intended to convene a political rally which was later called off.
During the commotion, five MCP women sustained serious injuries including an elderly woman who fainted in the process and had to be rushed to a nearby Sojen Health Center for medical assistance.
During an interview, Karim blamed his competitor Viola of DPP of practising politics of castigation and hate speech which is instilling anger among their supporters.
Karim added that during the violence some DPP supporters broke his vehicle’s windscreen.
“For quite some time now our friends from the DPP have been practising politics of racial and religious discrimination. They have been calling me several names during their rallies instead of articulating issues on the podium. This a worrisome development,” said Karim.
However, Viola denied being racially sensitive in his speech during political rallies saying it is Karim who has been calling on people in the constituency not to vote for him as he doesn’t stay in the constituency.
On removing of party flags, Viola said an MCP supporter Davie Kamonjora provoked the situation when he manhandled DPP supporter Matthews Goje accusing him of removing an MCP flag leading to the fracas.
Meanwhile, Senior Group Village Nyambiro of the area has urged candidates of both parties to tell their supporters to tolerate one another and conduct their campaign peacefully.
