By Kondwani Magombo, MANA
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Secretary General, Grezelder Jeffrey, Wednesday thanked people of Mangochi for holding peaceful demonstrations in protest to the February 3 Constitutional Court ruling of May 2019 election case.
The peaceful joint march with the United Democratic Front (UDF) supporters started from Mpondasi to Mangochi Town Council where they submitted a petition to the authorities of Mangochi district and town councils.
Jeffrey speaking to the supporters
Thousands of DPP and UDF supporters turned up, clad in their respective party colours and they all marched together peacefully.
“What you have displayed as people of Mangochi is very remarkable,” Jeffrey said. “We have had our peaceful demonstrations without breaking a shop or killing any security personnel.
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“Let us all unite and work together in pursuit for justice.”
Jeffrey appealed to both parties’ supporters to remain vigilant and to rally behind President Peter Mutharika all the way to the ballot.
“You know there’s a case in court and we hope to get justice; however, in the unlikely event that we are going to have a fresh election then my appeal to you is that you should all register in large numbers and also vote for Professor Mutharika on the polling day,” she said.
Presenting the petition
Before the march commenced, the mammoth crowd observed a minute of silence in honour of Superintendent Imedi Usumani, who was brutally killed by a mob in the line of duty at Nsundwe in October 2019.
Other notable figures at the march included Minister of Information, Civic Education and Communications Technologies, Mark Botomani; DPP national organizing secretary, Chimwemwe Chipungu; Mangochi Central MP, Victoria Kingston; Regional Governor for the east, Julius Paipi and director of women for the East, Elube Kandeu.
The leaders
On the other hand, UDF national organizing secretary, Abubakar M’baya, alongside other officials represented the party.
M’baya assured the DPP leadership and the party’s followers that the Eastern Region would give Mutharika “2 million” votes should there be fresh election.
Mangochi District Commissioner Reverend Moses Chimphepo and acting Director of Administration for Mangochi Town Council, Madalitso Mwenemulupa received the petitions.
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The two in their separate speeches assured the demonstrators that they would take the petitions to the right authorities.