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| National |
| UDF young democrats beat up CCAP reverend |
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by
Peter Makossah, 18 May 2004
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16:57:21
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A group of thugs believed to be the notorious UDF Young Democrats travelling in the party’s yellow pick-up on Tuesday roughed up a CCAP synod of Livingstonia Church minister in Kasungu district, accusing him of preaching against their party’s presidential hopeful Bingu Mutharika.
Church minister for Kasasanya CCAP church in the district Reverend Benson Msiska was beaten severely while walking on road by shabby-looking young men, wearing UDF T-shirts.
“A gang of Young Democrats alighted from a UDF vehicle and descended onto the church minister, hurling insults at him before physically manhandling him. They later left him lying on the ground helpless before jumping on the vehicle and disappeared,” alleged an eyewitness who did not want to be identified.
General secretary for Livingstonia Synod Reverend Howard Matiya Nkhoma confirmed in an interview on Tuesday, saying he, together with moderator of the synod Maurice Munthali and another reverend Mezuwa Banda were on their way to Kasungu to visit the beaten priest.
“It is true that our church minister has been beaten up by a gang of people travelling in a UDF vehicle and they are believed to be UDF young democrats. This very sad and very uncalled for. We, as a synod, strongly condemn such acts as ungodly and barbaric,” lamented Matiya Nkhoma.
Munthali said in an interview that the development is a sign that the UDF is on the verge of going out of government.
“The writing is on wall for the UDF. Their actions simply mean that they are a frustrated lot. Why should they beat innocent souls? We want to establish what happened and then we can decide what cause of action to take against the perpetrators,” said Munthali.
A senior police officer at Kasungu Police Station, speaking on anonymity, confirmed the development, saying they had received a report of the incident.
“We have received the report of the beating but as you know there is nothing we can do to the young democrats. If we arrest them now it is either we will be ordered to release them unconditionally or we will be transferred to remote areas. But it is very unfortunate,” said the senior police officer.
Deputy police spokesperson Kelvin Maigwa, when contacted for comment on Tuesday said he had not received any report regarding the incident.
He said: “We have not yet received the report. Let me investigate and I will come back to you.” He never did.
UDF district governor for Kasungu Daud Kananji could be reached for comment on Tuesday.
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