Kyungu talks tough on Karonga political violence: Mwalwanda sorry

Paramount Chief Kyungu of Malawi’s northern border district of Karonga has strongly condemned political violence between supporters of the ruling People’s Party (PP) officials Frank Mwenefumbo and Cornelius Mwalwanda who are fighting for the parliamentary seat in 2014 election.

Recently one of supporters of incumbent parliamentarian Mwalwanda whose camp is known as PP ‘B’ had his house torched by suspected supporters of Mwenefumbo of PP ‘A’ who are reportedly ordered all those supporting Mwalwanda to move of the area or face consequences.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Nyasa Times Kyungu called on political leaders who are perpetrating violence to resign from politics.

He said it is unfortunate to see political leaders  instead of promoting democracy they are killing it by sponsoring the youths to be violent instead of giving them developmental ideas that help would improve their lives.

“It is very unfortunate that the violence is happening in democratic country and it is influenced by people who know democracy. I see no reason for any right thinking politician to sponsor the youths to start violence with any person or any party, this is nonsense.

“I ca not believe that this dirty politics is happening in Karonga . It is a sad thing to me and my people.  If these politicians see that they cannot make it peacefully it is better for them to resign and start something else than torturing lives of people with their money,” said Kyungu.

He said politicians should be responsible and think of ordinary people in the villages who suffer most during the violence.

“Imagine the person who has his house set on fire is a villager and now he is begging for survival while the people they were fighting for are in their houses enjoying with their families. Someone who wants to win should put his or her heart on people’s lives and think how to uplift them than bringing them down as what has happened here where children are suffering for nothing,” said Kyungu.

He then pleaded with the youths to love their community by developing it with their hands not relaying on handouts.

“I will have meetings in all constituencies to advice people that I strongly hate violence in my district. Anyone doing so will be pushed out of the district to wherever people like violence.”

Meanwhile, Cornelius Mwalwanda member of the parliament in the constituency has apologized to the people of Karonga on what is happening.

“I am really a concerned person on what has happen and I do condemn it because politics is not about fighting each other but bringing development in the community so what has happened is a shameful thing and unfortunately it is also happing within the party a thing that am not comfortable with because what is needed is to promote unity among people,” said Mwalwanda.

Mwalwanda said he will organize religious leaders from various churches to pray for peace in his constituency saying it is only God who can intervene and bring peace in the constituency.

“Thank God that the Party’s Secretary General (Paul Maulidi) called us to see how we can solve the political violence that is happening in the constituency and we have agreed that we will have a joint rally in Karonga central with all the supporters but apart from that I will also call religious leaders to ask our God to give us direction on away forward,” said Mwalwanda.

He said he has given a man whose house was set on fire, bags of maize and kitchen utensils.

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