Cdedi hold demo in Blantyre to make governance queries: Demand Malawi govt to reduce fuel prices

The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (Cdedi) and the Blantyre Small Scale Business Operators  led a peaceful demonstration against the Tonse Alliance government in Blantyre on Tuesday with dozens of protestors giving the leadership  a demand for an immediate reduction on fuel prices in light of Covid-19 lockdown measures and governance queries.

Protesters during their march in Blantyre
Some of the scenes during Cdedi led protests
The protesters marched peacefully unlike in the past when demonstrators led by HRDC under the leadership of Timothy Mtambo  would damage property
The message on the placards carried by the protesters was clear
Some of the scenes during Cdedi led protests

Cdedi and the business operators had initially planned to hold the protests on January 8 2021 but Blantyre City Council (BCC) withheld its permission.

This prompted the organizers of the mass protests to file a fresh application for permission to BCC to hold peaceful demonstration on January 13 2021.

However, this was cancelled after President Lazarus Chakwera declared three days of mourning following the sudden death of the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Lingson Belekanyama, and his Transport and Public Works counterpart, Sidik Mia.

Mia was also Vice President of the lead partner in the Tonse Alliance government, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP).

But after a long wait, Cdedi and the business operators on Tuesday held their demonstration.

Among others, the protesters demanded an immediate reduction on fuel prices and that

the Tonse Alliance government to stop an alleged selective application  of justice, provide one million jobs to the loafing youths as promised during the campaign ahead of the Fresh Presidential Election on June 23, 2020.

They further demanded that the Chakwera administration should produce a report on how it expended the resources earmarked for the aborted July 6, 2020, independence celebrations.

Cdedi executive director Sylvester Namiwa said he was satisfied with the turnout of the people who came out to exercise their constitutional right to peaceful demonstrations.

“As Cdedi, we are very happy we have finally presented our grievances to the authorities. Now, everything rests with the Tonse Alliance government to demonstrate that it is indeed inclusive by addressing our concerns as a matter of urgency,” Namiwa told Nyasa Times.

One of the protesters, Jacob Mailosi, said he was happy to have participated in the peaceful march.

Mailosi said it is sad that successive governments have failed to address land issues in Thyolo, Mulanje and Phalombe.

“It’s also very sad that these successive governments have failed to remove illegal immigrants from our markets. We want this Tonse Alliance government to address these issues now,” he said.

Cdedi recently also held similar protests in  the capital and presented a petition to the President through the Lilongwe City Council which promised to pass it on to Chakwera and his government.

Namiwa stated that if the government will not respond to the queries, other protests will be held in Mzuzu before nationwide demonstrations ensue.

The protesters marched peacefully unlike in the past when demonstrators led by Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) under the leadership of Timothy Mtambo  would damage property.

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Concerned citizen
3 years ago

International fuel prices are on the rise. How do our local prices come down?

What am I missing?

Clara
Clara
3 years ago

But on Fuel the government has no choice but to reduce the price. Actually, internationally fuel has gone down as it has never before and Covid has hit hard than ever before. Wake up “Kwantele Govt” its long over due

Citizen
3 years ago

Nkadakhala ine president nkadawathandiza ndi ndalama kuti a gube maboma onse. Zilibe impact izi. Mademo enieni ndi aja tidachotsera a dad pa mpandowa basi.

Ungwelu
Ungwelu
3 years ago

CCEDI is a cadets group operating as an NGO. Some of us knew it long time ago. Is it true that in times like this one would organize demos?

Mwinithako
Mwinithako
3 years ago

Izi nzomwe anthu akumwera anafuna pothandizita Chipani Cha MCP ndi UTM kulanda Boma la DPP.Lero a Sidik Mia amasimbbwa osadziwa kuti anzawo awasungila mpeni kumphasa.Anangowaolotsa basi kho kuwaikila Corona muzakudya ku msonkahno wawo eeeish.Achinyamata akumwera amashashalika kuti DPP ichoke ndepano mukuti chiyani.Agalu achabechabe .Ife tinkadziwa kuti izi mwapanga izi mawa mudzalira mweeee.Lero ndeziti kkk.

Hate it or take it but it's a fact
Reply to  Mwinithako

U thought ku Khala wakumwera then u own Malawi??? Be civilised my friend don’t be stupid.
Am from South and to be specific Nsanje but can’t entertain mediocrity like this, let Malawi be for every body not southerners only .

I would prefer this presidency to start rotating in all the regions of Malawi.

Mbuzi kusi
Mbuzi kusi
3 years ago
Reply to  Mwinithako

Very full and uncivilized southern er, accept that this world is controlled by GOD, u said u will rule until 2084, mulikutiko pano? Opposition, nothing special about southern region, it has the highest illeteracy levels, poverty levels

Ngombwax
Ngombwax
3 years ago

It is the civic duty of every citizen to be very skeptical about anything the govt of the day says and does. But I am deeply suspicious about this NGO called Cdedi. Methinks we should quickly dissolve these tribal criminal cabals masquerading as NGOs.

Thyolo Thava Boy
3 years ago

Macadet muchiratu kkkkkk. Muguba mutopa zifukwa zake zaziii inu covid simukumuona zoona????

bentby
3 years ago

what a wastage of time, busy misleading and misinforming people just to advance political will of your sponsors. this time is for us to encourage each other to push forward and work hard. no time to waste for politicking of no benefits. mukapanda kusamala your NGO will lose credibility and die slowly like a tyre with a punch

guest
guest
3 years ago

ma cadet mademo sopano…mpaka 2025 mukuenda anthu 5 choncho nkumati mademo

Vigege
Vigege
3 years ago

Irrelevant demonstrations. Stinky organization

Jobasi Chikweche Ngozo
Reply to  Vigege

Chitsiru iwe, why irrelevant? Are you saying very violent and destructive demonstrations led by the thug Timothy Mtambo, championed by Chakwera and Chilima were relevant? If that is the case then you must be admitted at the Mental Hospital in Zomba.

Anzanufe
Anzanufe
3 years ago
Reply to  Vigege

Chindere ichi. Sitikusiyani and to hell with your inept government.

Hate it or take it but it's a fact
Reply to  Anzanufe

I think Muntharika was more inept than Chakwera, that’s why Norman Chisale a security guard was on driving seat.
He could see that his Uncle Peter was irrelevant to lead.

james
3 years ago

This is all over not only malawi fuel is up in south its 20 rand litre not only you gays thinking ur suffering more

Zio ine
Zio ine
3 years ago
Reply to  james

No report will come out on the independent celebration the money was shared between chakwera and chiponda kandodo

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