Forum speaks against demo: ‘Bad timing’
The Forum for National Development ( FND) which is a group believed to be bankrolled by the ruling People’s Party and operates under instructions from State House has spoken against planned anti-government demonstrations.
Forum leaders told journalists in Lilongwe on Wednesday that organising street demonstration this time would create unnecessary tension ahead of the May 20elections.
”We know demonstration is a democratic right for any citizen to express views that needs to be addressed but we are against the timing because the tensions are already high in the country because of the elections so this could give advantage to other people to abuse their rights by stealing goods in shops,” said Chairperson of the grouping Bright Kampaundi.
He also alleged that the civil society leaders supporting the demonstrations have received K200 000 each from the opposition parties with the aim to disrupt the election process.
”Why should we join demonstrations whose leaders have received money to hold these while we participate for nothing. If the opposition parties are confident of winning the elections come May 20 as they have been boasting about, why then support demonstrations which will disrupt the election process,” added Kampaundi.
However in an interview Grand Coalition spokesperson Lucky Mbewe said the demonstrations will go ahead as earlier planned but only Blantyre City will host the demonstrations due to what he called logistical challenges.
He also trashed claims that the Grand Coalition is being sponsored by the opposition parties who want to get into power through back door saying those claims are baseless.
” We are going ahead with the demonstrations only in Blantyre because we don’t have enough resources to organise nationwide demonstrations” added Mbewe.
The CSOS want to pressurize government to among others disclose the way funds realized from the sale of the presidential jet were used.
The CSOs are also accusing government of unconstitutionally subsiding the sovereignty of the State by prioritising the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as the first beneficiary of the summary report on cashgate sidelining Parliament.
