|
The MCP on Sunday accused Vice President Cassim Chilumpha of scaring off “would be witnesses” in the elections case in which the Mgwirizano Coalition and MCP are contesting the May 20 presidential poll results by holding a press briefing last Friday disassociating the UDF from remarks made by national executive member Dumbo Lemani on Thursday.
Lemani said he had been telephoned by UDF deputy director of research Humphrey Mvula, who is under police custody on allegations of murder, to tell the nation that the May 20, 2004 presidential elections were rigged by UDF members where 362,000 votes cast for MCP president John Tembo were manipulated and given to UDF candidate Bingu wa Mutharika.
Speaking on behalf of MCP, Nicholas Dausi, who is the party’s publicity secretary said Chilumpha is raising more eyebrows by reacting to the disclosure “made by individual members of the party” saying the party was not mentioned to have been part of the rigging and that there was no cause for the party “to get jittery”.
“Why did the whole Vice President call for a press conference? What is he defending? What is he fearing? Is it because he fears to lose his position?” queried Dausi.
He said Chilumpha does not usually respond to issues in UDF and that “his quick reaction means there is a lot that is being hidden”.
“Is the Vice President going to answer everybody who makes disclosures?” questioned Dausi, adding that the UDF gurus should leave the issue as it is and wait for the court to decide on whether the evidence is admissible or not.
“Nobody should pre-empt this,” said Dausi.
At the press briefing, Chilumpha vehemently denied claims that Mvula rigged the May 20 presidential elections saying Mutharika was constitutionally and legally elected.
|
