Some residents of Nkhata Bay have, however, raised issue with what happened Wednesday as they fear it could spark breach of security and peace in an event supporters of the two sides clashed.

“It was a very fertile environment for political violence. I would wish that in future, such gatherings be held very far apart or better still on separate days,” said one resident of Nkhata Bay town.

Spokesperson for Nkhata Bay District Council, Patrick Botha, said the venue had been allocated to one alliance while the other was on a whistle-stop and only ended up holding a political rally.

The raising campaign fever on both sides was evident way before the rallies begun with followers of the two camps demonstrating agitation to prove to be more relevant than the other.

The political opponents; Tonse Alliance of the MCP, UTM and seven other parties and DPP-UDF rivals went out to sell the electorate the justification for their candidates to be ushered in office, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and Professor Peter Mutharika respectively.

The DPP-UDF alliance, led by DPP vice president for the North Goodall Gondwe, regional governor Christopher Mzomera-Ngwira, Grace Chiulia and Nkhata Bay central MP Symon Vuwa- Kaunda impressed on followers to vote for Mutharika to ensure continued development.

“We have received over 200 members from MCP and UTM, this is because of the DPP’s sound and development conscious leadership,” Kaunda told the rally.

Less than 100 meters from this venue Tonse Alliance partners also held a political rally alongside leadership of the Citizens for Transformation-CFT-Timothy Mtambo at ADMARC grounds.

Franked by Peoples Party vice president for the North, Raphael Mhone, Malawi Congress Party national youth director, Richard Chimwendo-Banda and UTM officials, Mtambo urged the people to vote for Chakwera for change of leadership that will guaranteed meaningful development.