Activist Mayaya freed on bail, charged for holding demo ‘without permission’

 Civil Society activist Billy Mayaya has been freed on bail after he was arrested on Tuesday for attempting to stage protests against persistent power black outs and water shortages.

Mayaya and two of his colleagues have since been charged with unlawful assembly and holding a demonstration without permission.

He has paid K20, 000 and surrendered his travel document among other bail conditions.

Dozens of civil rights activists and politicians were at the court and these inciuded suspended Malawi Congress Party publicist Jessie Kabwila, chairman of the Centre for the Development of the People, Macdonald Sembereka, and Human Rights Consultative Committee chairman Robert Mkwezalamba.

Police said on Tuesday Mayaya wanted to hold the protests without permission from the Lilongwe City Council.

However Mayaya said he had notified the police and the council on Thursday as the law stipulates.

The police told Mayaya to cancel the demostrations to which he refused.