Abida Mia Back in Blantyre Streets After Being Teargassed

By Alfred Mthandizi

Abida Mia, wife to Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Vice President, Sidik Mia, on Friday stormed Blantyre streets where he distributed party materials in almost all minibuses. Malawi police in the commercial capital Blantyre on Thursday, fired tear gas and shot bullets in the air to disperse dozens of people opposing Malawi Congress Party (MCP). Supporters gathered at curios market (paz iboli boli) received party cloth from vice-president Mohammed Sidik Mia and his wife Abida.

Mia, addressed the supporters, vendors and shoppers appealing for them to support MCP as Malawi is heading to watershed elections next year in May. Police shot bullets in the air to disperse the opposition supporters, but they resisted to move until teargas cannisters were fired.

MCP members, shoppers and street vendors hurried for cover as police moved to break up the gathering. In an interview on Friday, Abida Mia said she cannot fail to visit people in the streets just because of a fear of the Police. “As a Malawian, there is no need to fear anybody. I will continue going in the streets chatting with people, without fear,” said bravery Abida Mia. Meanwhile, MCP Publicity Secretary, Reverend Maurice Munthali, says MCP is not disappointed with the conduct of Malawi Police.

In a statement released on Thursday, Munthali said;

“Having said about the two incidents we would also like to express our deepest concern over the recent incident where the Police recklessly and unprofessionally threw teargas at the Party’s First Vice President, Honorable Sidik Mia and our supporters in the city of Blantyre where he was peacefully and lawfully sharing light moments with the vendors.”

Munthali said MCP is deeply concerned, saddened and dismayed by the conduct of some Malawi Police Officers who continue to shamelessly torture innocent Malawians in this age and time. He said such brutal acts have spilled over to our own members of the media, the latest being journalists from Zodiak Broadcasting Station, who have been beaten up to the point of having their clothes torn apart by the men in uniform.