Newly-elected Lilongwe City Council deputy mayor Juliana Kaduya has gone into hiding, alleging that a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) senior member has threatened her for messing up mayoral votes last week.

Kaduya is being accused of betraying the DPP during the elections by voting for MCP Candidate Desmond Bikoko who is now new mayor for Lilongwe City.

Speaking from her undisclosed hideout, Kaduya claimed she started receiving the threats as soon as she was declared winner of the deputy mayor’s position.

“When the elections were over, I got a call from a very senior DPP regional officer telling me that they will deal with me for messing up the votes. I was one of the people who left [the venue of the elections] late and had to hire a police escort,” she said.

When asked as to whether she has reported the matter to police, Kaduya said she did not.

Effort to talk to DPP spokesperson Francis Kasaila proved futile.

Human right activist Billy Mayaya has condemned the threats by some DPP officials directed at the Deputy Mayor, saying the tendency is killing democracy in the country.

“We condemn the threats being directed at the Deputy Mayor of Lilongwe. Stop concocting stories to cover up your dismal performance in the Mayoral polls. Anthu opikisana amakhala ndi strategy. Akudyetsani njomba ngati ku Mchinji koma Basi makani simukufuna kubvomeleza. On your way up be nice to people because on your way down, you’ll meet the very same people,” wrote Mayaya.

Meanwhile the City of Blantyre and Mzuzu is today holding mayoral polls.