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DPP organise chiefs to demonstrate against MPs

image Chiefs demo. [Photo courtesy of H.A Maloya/MalawiTalk]

Governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) organised and funded demonstration in the streets of the capital city of Lilongwe, commercial city of Blantyre, Mzuzu City and the newly declared City of Zomba, against the opposition members of parliament who are boycotting the ordinary sitting of parliament currently on recess.

The demonstrators are against the opposition for their quest to see the embattled Section 65 implemented by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Louis Chimango, who is on record of ruling that deliberation continues despite short of numbers in the august house required for deliberation to go on.

Presiding over demonstrations in Zomba, Senior Chief Chikowi of Zomba presented the petition to District Commissioner [DC] Atanazio Chibwana saying:“We are saddened and I am disappointed in particular for MP's boycotting parliament.

"We want development and not section 65, and this is the reason why we sent them to parliament,” said Chikowi who was convicted but later pardoned by President Bingu Mutharika said.

The Zomba demonstrations were jointly done by the people from Ntcheu, Balaka and Zomba and mostly were members of DPP ferried by party officials and some using government transport.While in the commercial city of Blantyre, Chief Kuntaja led the demonstrations. 

Presenting the petition to the DC Charles Makanga, Kuntaja said: “We expect parliament to listen to our voice, the people who voted them are the people of the chiefs, therefore they should listen to us chiefs.”

Similar demonstrations took place in the capital city Lilongwe, comprising of chiefs from Dowa, Dedza, Ntchisi, and presented their petition to Charles Kalemba the Lilongwe DC. 

Meanwhile Billy Banda of Malawi Watch, a human rights activist has described the current political atmosphere as 'unstable and critical' saying it may affect the 2009 presidential and parliamentary elections.

Comments (10 posted):

John Kandiona on 03 May, 2008 06:01:49
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The chiefs demonstrating against the MPs boycotting Parliament are not representing the rural mass but they are doing it on their own interents not on the capacity as chiefs. Chiefs are not involved in politics.Any reasonable chief can not allow to be used for demonstrations like these ones. Demonstrations can not solve our current problems.Those demonstrating against MPs should know that the bycotting MPs have support from majority who are not voicing their support at this time. Empty tin makes noise.
monda on 03 May, 2008 08:43:56
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l feel ashamed in lecture room when Malawi is being used as the most poor country friends keep on looking at me and being the only african l feel out of place and l feel sorry to see the leadership is carefree.l feel sorry to see chiefs being used because DPP knows that chiefs partially understand constitution.This behaviour is uncalled for dont take our chiefs into kindergatten games.You know for sure that you are playing with law.Sunset of this leadership is coming l can smell that if my nose are right its soon.People will just vote to wipeout DPP as 1994.ALLAH KNOWS BEST
chintemwende jermiah on 03 May, 2008 09:38:39
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You chiefs! your are not serious at all Inu monga anthu akulu akulu simungamapange demonstrations kuti section sikisite faifi ayi. you are suppossed to demonstrate that some of the gov MPs had defiled the Mw constitution especially section 65 hence their seat should be declared vacant. Why do allowyourself to be bought as if you are bags of charcoal. No body is above Mw constition. Does it mean that you are happy to see the Mw constitution being bleached? shame on you greedy chiefs!!!!!!!!
vinungu chawawa on 03 May, 2008 10:56:00
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* am even amazed to learn that my chief is demonstrating because he did not consult me. he could be doing it on behalf of his family (children and grand children) but not me. it is worrisome that government is capitalising on the high levels of poverty and illiteracy to cheat people.let us assume that sec.65 is ignored and business in parliament goes on as usual, what will prevent government from violating other provisions in the constitution? unfortunately, the current scenario has created a negative precedent which future governments will base their unconstitutional behaviour, and will lead into dictatorship!

one wonders if the constitution has not been constructively suspended? * suppose so, and gvt banks its hopes on the docility of Malawians. this docility is, arguably, leading us into so many ils including poverty and laziness because we are able to think outside the box. it was the case during the first republic when noone dared to bell the cut, untill the international community came to our rescue, then pressure groups emerged.

if chiefs say they want development and not sec. 65, they should also know that sec.65 governs the very same development they are talking about.if mps straddle between political affiliations, they are a rolling stone which does not stablise to organise and manage development, but pursue personal interests. again, defections are a recipe for corruption and corruption is a vice agaist development. if * become an mp today and keep on changing parties until the fifth year of my term, can the chief tell me that * will have time to pursue developmental agenda apart from the interests of my family?

* know * may be unfair to chiefs for being philosophical since they will not even understand what * am trying to address here.but for those who know, let us stand up and tip this dictatorship in the bud! or we will regret!

unortunately, the oposition is so selfish that they cannot unite in the next elections to form a common front against the dpp. a good exampele is zimbabwe. mdc faction and simba makoni must be rgreting for not uniting with the main mdc. they would have gotten 50+% for presidency. but they all wnated to be seen to be strong and formidable, unfortunately to the benefit of a dictator mugabe. jzu and tcheya, pliz, can you hamble yourselves at least for the sake of our country and join hands to remove the crooked, cunning and officially corrupt regime!
nyasa wa lero on 04 May, 2008 11:06:16
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this is what we projected last week that we shall be seing them protesting , remaining are the vasity students very soo they will join these poor chiefs who have nothing to do.My argument is why so called hman rughts actists, church leaders especially catholics ARE NOT VOICING OUT?do you like it seeing laws of the land being violated.
Nyekhere Mvahiwa on 04 May, 2008 03:21:28
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* don'* see anything wrong if people demonstrate freely to show their concerns. But if really the demonstrations were funded by government, that is another thing. However * wish the writer could have proved to us beyond our understanding that indeed it was funded. The writer has also talked of the demonstrators using government vehicles. But why not quoting the registration numbers of the vehicles to substantiate this. Tikukudziwani mbali yanu! Koma izi sizinayambe lero! Mukufuna tikukumbutseni? "Paja amalawi sitichedwa kuiwala" anatero Muluzi. Ndangodusamo ndiribe kutcholamo nkhwani
Che Sinoya on 04 May, 2008 05:15:04
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Monda, it is really disheartening to have Malawi constantly being referred to as the most poor country in the world. But as you can see, Bingu is trying to help to clear the economic mess created from 1994-2004 although he is meeting hurdles like the non-development oriented MPs who are just bent to bring down his government. This is why these chiefs are justified to make these demonstrations. We do not eat politics but we can eat the fruits of development and poor Malawi needs to develop!
607 on 05 May, 2008 11:41:48
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at the end of the day ,we all know what motivates these chiefs .These are greedy and unashamed people and * pray that God punish them come next year after the polls.
* said last week that every chief has command over one vote and all the oposition mps should not be worried as times have change and its only sound political moves that work come the voting time .Bingu thought he would manipulate even the civil society and im told he so sick that none have come to support him as it was last year .
The oposition should also be commended for playing smart politics this time because people are seeing sence in what they are saying .
munkhaulitse mmbambo amaneyu anga yeese munda wake dziko lino .
Hands Kawoko on 05 May, 2008 02:36:29
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Zoonadi anthu akuluakulu mimba uko kuvomereza zokayenda mmiseu? kaya pakuti mumtima mwathu mwalowamo kale. Chikakhala ine ndi dzavotera amene amalondola malamulo basi. Inu mafumu mukudziwa kuti munthu akaswa lamulo, mumamulipitsa kaya nkhuku, kaya mbuzi, tsono lero mukukhala patsogolo kuvomereza kuti Bingu, Kaliati, Chimango ndi ena otere aphwanye malamulo omwe amapanga okha. Kostitushoni yathu amene ali malamulo akulu a dziko lathu la Malawi, mmodzi olemba nawo ndi Cimangoyo, ndiye lero akuti basi malamulo tiphwanye, zikomo anthu tidzatsatiranso doctrine of necessity tikadula manja a kazi athu. Wayamba ndi Chimango ndiye musadzati, ife talakwa ayi. Inu mafumu chenjerani, ndi chifukwa chake mwatha mfungo chifukwa aliyense akudziwa kuti ndinu anthu adyera.
Mverani Malangizo on 05 May, 2008 03:44:48
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Why can'* you people on the gavament side tell the truth, you have cheated malawians for so long, and we have seen. What you should not forget is that when we malawians were making HKB a life long president, it all started just as where we are now, some greedy people wanted to reap the most hiding behind HKB, exactly what is happening right now. Section 65 is part of the developments, is is unfortunate that you are using mainly the illiterate chiefs, those you can easily manipulate to say what they do not understand the least. Why not ask the elite in the cities, or those in the know how? You are going to be disappointed for your days are numbered, we are saying, as bonafide citizens of Malawi that you should tackle section 65 once and for all, if you really are politicians as you claim to be. It is time up guys, sober up.
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