Cancel demo, Beam ‘well-wishers’ appeal: Malawi CSOs says nope!

Leader of a group of businesspersons who raised K5 million for First Lady Gertrude Mutharika’s Beautify Malawi (Beam) Trust to refund the grant to National Aids Commission (NAC), Bannet Chinsinga has urged the civil society organisations (CSOs) to cancel demonstrations planned for January 13, 2015 fearing the events could turn violent.

HRCC chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba (L) receiving K5 million from Chinsinga as pro-government activist Billy Mayaya looks on
HRCC chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba (L) receiving K5 million from Chinsinga as pro-government activist Billy Mayaya looks on

The CSOs have scheduled the peaceful protests to be held in the country’s cities to demand Mutharika’s Trust refund a K5 million it collected from NAC despite being a charity that primarily deals with environmental matters, not HIV and Aids affairs.

The First Lady has put her foot down that the money will not be refunded. And NAC board chairperson Kumbweza Banda said there is a process it follows when it wants money returned or refunded, saying that has not been the case with Beam.

Chinsinga told Nyasa Times in an interview on Christmas eve that 10 business person contributed K500, 000 each to raise K5 million so that Beam and refund the money to NAC to avert the planned demonstrations.

A 35 year old Chinsinga who owns chain of businesses said memories are still fresh of July 20, 2011 national demonstrations where thieves and looters took advantage of the situation and broke banks, retail shops, and destroyed a lot of businesses.

He said organizers should carefully review their position.

“We appeal to the organisers to cancel the demonstrations because businesses do fall apart and it will affect the country’s stability,” said Chinsinga.

The Beam well-wishers condemned the CSO’s for the planned demonstrations, saying they are harbouring “ill motives” and pointed at failure for similar outrage during Cashgate where about K23 billion was stolen under the Joyce Banda administration, according to an audit report by British firm Baker Tilly.

However,  Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) executive director Timothy Mtambo, one of the CSOs pushing Beam to refund the money, said the process was a charade .

“The status quo remains the same. The demonstrations will go ahead. That money needs to be returned to NAC,” said Mtambo.

Beam Trust deputy board chairperson Collins Magalasi position remains that the money can never be returned.

Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) executive Director Gift Trapence said the CSOs are calling for demonstrations following the numerous challenges that the country is going through.

“We have a NACGATE yes that is just a sub item, look we do not have a working judicial systems in this country this is the second month, we have water shortages, blackout on daily basis, economic challenges Malawians are going through, health systems are in problems,” he said.

On cashgate, Trapence said Malawians demonstrated by removing Joyce Banda through the ballot.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC), chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba said they are keeping the K5 million and they will formally write NAC and Treasury on refunding it.

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mona
9 years ago

Demo is on madzi akusiyasiya moonjeza and mlakho abweze ndalama za nac after that apm must resign

baba
baba
9 years ago

NGATI MULI ACHISONI NDI MALAWI, WHY NOT RAISE MONEY TO SORT OUT ISSUES IN HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS ETC. WHY RAISE MONEY FOR BEAM WHO ARE ALREADY RICH. CORRUPTION AT ITS BEST. YOU KNOW WHEN U BUY GENERATOR FOR THE HOSPITAL THATS GENUINE WELL WISHING. WHEN U DO IT FOR BEAM THE BIG PEOPLE WILL DO SOMETHIN G IN RETURN. KATANGALE BASI.

CAN MPS PLEASE DISCUSS THIS WELLWISHING BUSINESS AND MAKE IT ILLEGAL. TATOPA NDI MA CHAKUTICHAKUTI GATE.

jame
jame
9 years ago

Atumbuka demo yanu singatheke, believe u me. We had a common cause in the Bingu era, not this hatred based so called Demo. U will believe me! U can not amass the support you are dreaming about- no way! Malawians are more awake this time!

Mbwinda
Mbwinda
9 years ago
Reply to  jame

Umbuli ndi umenewo! Politicians sow a seed of tribalistic anarchy sothat they can easily control and manipulate u. Development of Malawi will need all Malawians inspite of their demographics.

Keen Observer
9 years ago

The problem of seeking solutions from human beings. There is no one who will bring solutions to our problems other than The Lord. People will be people greed & selfishness. No matter who we can put in government the fact remains the same, these are politicians they will be politicians

fathi slshehaab
fathi slshehaab
9 years ago

well demos or not…but ..nismsnagement &stealing aid money not plausible…oneway to send msg is demos…amebe amapha anthu ndi a boma noe cso….bodza!

NYAKWAWA
9 years ago

Tell BEAM Trust to refund the money be4 January 13th apo ayi Mass Demos more fire!

Stability ya dziko custodian ndi President NOT Csos.

Abwanawo auze amayi kuti alandire thandizo akabweze ku NAC

New Govt
New Govt
9 years ago

Demo for male president is better than the against a woman? Iwe Ntambo zija unkapanga mu great hall kumalimbikisa ma Demo ukadali nazobe? Ufuse undule zozuza a malawi and pano he is a born again iwe wangomaliza ku chanco in 2008 and mageyi eeee ma elections ayi koma living standards how can we economically enjoy a cashgated nation? Paja unkapanga BAH sunaphuzire logic kodi? Trapence uchenjere mulili wako wasala pang’ono ask undule! Sikuwopseza koma be guided by your consciousness!

chipatso
chipatso
9 years ago

Well! Well!! Kwaaachâ! Malawi oyeeeeeee! Atumbuka nonse muyimike manja tizikuziwani bwino.

Munthu odzikonda mtumbuka
Munthu odzikonda mtumbuka
9 years ago

Ife ndiye timadana ndi DPP ndipo demo tikapanga nanga tinamepo apa!

salala fredrick
9 years ago

he umbuli apa aaaa!demostrations doesnt mean destroying properties.change that mindset kungoloweza chilichose.poti 2011 anaphwanya katundu ndekuti pano azaphwanyaso nde chani..if you dont have ideas nthawi yino njolima…let those who hv this country at heart demostrate..adausi ndi NIB amapanga za HIV/AIDS basi anthu asayankhule.apresident anu amene kugawila atolankhani ndalama za AIDS kuba kunasala k8million ili kuti…aDPP mwayambilaso nkhanza zanu mukuti anthu asamayankhule ngati mwina inu ndi mafumu.awuzen amayi anuwo azikasesa munsewu amayambisilanji bungwe kavunyani wachabechabe alibe kalikose.

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