DPP regrets stoning of ruling Peoples Party supporters

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has said it regrets the Thyolo violence where 16 supporters of Malawi’s ruling People’s Party (PP) DPP regrets stoning of ruling Peoples Party supporters .

But DPP spokesperson Nicholas Dausi on Wednesday denied responsibility, reiterating that the party does not condone violence.

“We do not condone violence, but as a party, we regret what happened. We think in a multiparty democracy, the culture of tolerance and peaceful co-existence in a political diversity must be encouraged.

“And, we, as a political party, will cooperate with the investigations to find out what happened. We are sincerely concerned about what happened,” stated Dausi who said he was reading from a prepared statement.

He said DPP encourages its rank and file to be tolerant and disciplined.

“Diversity of our political opinion should not be a source of confrontation,” he said.

On Tuesday, PP squarely blamed the incident on DPP sympathisers.

Five arrested

Meanwhile, five people have been arrested in connection with the assault of PP supporters who were going to a function presided over by President Joyce Banda at Kalimbuka Primary School in the area of Traditional Authority Chimaliro in Thyolo District.

Southern Region Police spokesperson Nicholas Gondwa identified the suspects as Francis Ngolongoliwa (23), Harrison Munlo (30), Dafter Lucius (35), Victor Chilambe (18) and Limbani Tensoni (17).

The five were arrested at Chipendo Trading Centre where they also allegedly attacked a woman.

Gondwa said the five will appear in court on Thursday to answer charges of unlawful wounding and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.