People’s Party (PP) which is led by Former President Joyce Banda has joined fellow opposition parties and civil Society Organizations (CSO) in condemning the act of violence that took place in Mangochi on Saturday during a rally held by Dr Saulos Chilima and his United Transformation Movement (UTM).

Unknown thugs suspected of being from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) petrol bombed two vehicles of UTM on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

However, the act has since been condemned by CSO’s and other political parties including Malawi Congress Party (MCP).

The party’s leader Dr Lazarus Chakwera earlier today expressed shock in a statement seen by this publication.

“The Mangochi barbarity is a sad but clear sign that Malawi’s destiny is being eluded rapidly and our pursuit for meaningful democracy is but a fallacy,” reads part of the statement.

In joining fellow political parties condemning the act, PP in its statement signed by the party’s public secretary, Noah Chimpeni says such violence undermine the tenets of participatory democracy.

“The People’s Party (PP) wishes to join other political parties, civil society organizations (CSOs) and all well-meaning Malawians in condemning in strongest terms acts of political violence that occurred in Mangochi where two vehicles belonging to an opposition grouping were burnt on Saturday, August 18, 2018.

“PP is of the view that this kind of political intolerance, as exhibited in Mangochi, undermines the tenets of participatory democracy, including the holding of free, fair and credible elections, “reads the statement.

Noah noted that these kinds of violence may have been attributed by hate speeches being witnessed in some of the political rallies.

“PP would also like to register its utmost concern over continued hate speech and inflammatory statements among senior political leaders of opposing views. It is this ugly situation that may have degenerated into political violence in Mangochi and in other parts of the country such is in Mulanje, previously,” the statement reads.

Meanwhile, the ruling DPP has distanced itself from the act.