The acting Inspector General (IG) of Police Duncan Mwapasa has summoned police officers assigned to the Vice President Saulos Chilima after they used live bullets to shoot in Machinga on Friday when political violence reared its ugly head again ahead of fresh presidential elections.
Chilima was forced to call off his scheduled whistle-stop tours in Machinga after the road at Nselema was blocked against him One of the gun shot survivors One of the shooting victim One of the shooting victim
Chilima, who is UTM Party president and Tonse Alliance running mate, travelled to Nselema in Machinga to conduct a rally there but things turned ugly on his way to the venue as suspected United Democratic Front (UDF) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) functionaries blocked Bakili Muluzi Highway around Nselema.
Speaking in an audio that is circulating on WhatsApp, an eyewitness reports that people prevented Chilima from proceeding to the venue of the rally in revenge that Chilima has been insulting Malawi's former president Bakili Muluzi.
Chilima's press secretary Pilirani Phiri took to Twitter: "Political violence rears its ugly face again in Machinga.
UDF leader Atupele Muluzi comes from the area where the fracas occurred and is running mate to President Mutharika took to Facebook to condemn political violence.