Opposition Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) has condemned what it has described as the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) propaganda and smear campaign against the party vice president Timothy Pagonachi Simbega Mtambo.
AFORD National Public Secretary, Annie Amatullah Maluwa, in a statement issued on Friday, said the party is dismayed with the level of MCP’s web of lies and the war on truth.
“Beneath the façade of deceit, the MCP’s relentless smear campaign against Hon. Timothy Mtambo is not just a vicious attack on one man’s character, but a sinister assault on the very material of Malawi’s democracy. As the ruling party’s desperation grows, so does their reliance on fabricated truths and manipulated narratives. The latest smear campaign against Hon. Mtambo is a demonstration of malnourished leadership and a desperate by MCP to cling to power,” reads the statement in part.
“Against this background, AFORD would like to categorically deny the fabricated letter circulating online, suggesting that Hon. Timothy Mtambo apologized to Malawians for leading the 2020 national-wide demonstration. This is a blatant attempt to discredit his commitment to justice and democracy. As a champion of human rights, Hon. Mtambo proudly stands by his role in organizing peaceful protests, advocating for electoral justice and accountability. He believes in the power of peaceful demonstrations as a fundamental right of Malawian citizens. As Hon. Mtambo himself has stated, AFORD’s agenda is to liberate Malawians, and no amount of propaganda will stop us,” adds Maluwa in the statement.
She warns that should Malawians choose to demonstrate again, Hon. Mtambo will participate without hesitation, upholding his dedication to the cause.
Maluwa appealed to Malawians to always verify information through official channels, rejecting misinformation and cheap propaganda.
She further vowed that the party will not be silenced by baseless accusations and propaganda.
“Our voices will rise above the noise, and our message of hope and change will echo with the people. We refuse to be intimidated by the ruling party’s tactics of fear and manipulation. We stand firm in our commitment to justice, equality and democracy. Our movement is built on principles of courage and solidarity. We will not be broken by lies and misinformation. Finally, democracy must win.”
“We will expose the MCP’s propaganda machine for what it is; morally bankrupt, ethically corrupt and intellectually dishonest. To the architects of this smear campaign, we say; your lies will be revealed, your tactics will be exposed, and your legacy will be defined by the ashes of your own deceit. The truth will rise, and when it does, the MCP’s house of cards will crumble. The MCP’s propaganda will be their own undoing, for truth is the fire that will consume their web of lies. Malawians will not be fooled. The battle for truth has begun. Let’s stand together against fabricated narratives and uphold the values of transparency, accountability and democracy,” thus concludes the statement.
There was no immediate comment from MCP publicist Dr. Jessie Kabwila.