Chakwera vows to lead Malawi protests march to State House: Demands release of activists

March 9, 2020 Wanga Gwede - Nyasa Times 87 Comments

Malawi Congress Party(MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera has vowed to defy President Peter Mutharika’s threats to use force to crash protests at State House, saying he will lead his supporters in the march if Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) vice-chairperson Gift Trapence and the group’s chairperson for the Central Region Macdonald Sembereka will not be released in the next 48 hours.

Chakwera (c) orders for immediate release of Human right activists Sembereka (r), Trapence

The two human rights activists were arrested in Lilongwe last evening barely hours after President Mutharika warned HRDC that both the police and army will use “full force” to stop them from holding demonstrations at State House.

Trapence and Sembereka spent a night at Blantyre Police Station and Ndirande Police Station, respectively, following their arrest.

But in a statement released Monday and made available to Nyasa Times by MCP, Chakwera,  who together with UTM Party president ans State vice-president Saulos Chilima,  —  secured the landmark judgement by the five-judge panel of the High Court of Malawi sitting as the Constitutional Court that nullified the May 21 2019 presidential election on February 3 2020— is accusing President Mutharika of  openly instigating a crackdown on civil society leaders who were a the forefront of protests and legal action to challenge his election.

HRDC announced last week that it was planning a “citizen’s electoral justice march” to the State House on 25 March to force President Mutharika to assent to the electoral bills and appoint new Malawi Electoral Commission commissioners to manage fresh elections.

But Mutharika  who called the HRDC a “terrorist network”  warned the coalition  that both the police and army will use “full force” to stop them from holding demonstrations at State House.

In his statement,  Chakwera accused President Mutharika of being in breach of “several provisions of the Constitution” by ordering the “spurious arrests” of human rights defenders from the platform of the political party’s rally.

Chakwera has demanded that President Mutharika should  release immediately the HRDC members.

“But should he fail to do so within 48 hours, I will personally galvanize all peace-loving ad law-abiding Malawians to march on the State House of which he is a temporary tenant and camp there until theses innocent activist are released,” said Chakwera in the statement.

UTM Party  spokesperson Joseph Chidanti Malunga has also joined the chorus of demanding the release of the activist, describing their arrest as hindrance to democracy.

“Sunday’s arrest of the HRDC leadership is the latest evidence of the pitiful levels to which our MPS has been compromised. We have in Malawi a police service which has ceased to serve the public whose taxes sustain its operations and is now at the beck and call of politicians who are living on borrowed time.

“UTM joins all peace loving Malawians in condemning DPP and MPS for their continued acts of impunity. It also demands the immediate and unconditional release of the arrested activists and holds both DPP and MPS responsible for their safety and security,” reads in part the statement.

Meanwhile, Malawi Police Service (MPS) in a statement says they are hunting for HRDC chairperson Timothy Mtambo, whom they claim is on the run, following a warrant of arrest which has been secured.

The statement, signed by national police spokesperson James Kadadzera, says the warrant of arrest for the three was secured following a press briefing last week where the HRDC members called on people to seal State Residences.

Reads the statement in part: “The three suspects are fully aware that Section 103 of the Police Act prohibits any demonstrations or assemblies within a hundred metres from State Residences unless the same have been permitted by the State President.

“This means that no one can seal a State Residence unless they breach the provision of Section 103 of the Police Act.”

The statement promises that “the nation will be continuously updated on any development”.

Mtambo had planned to surrender himself to the police Monday morning but remains at large.

According to activist Billy Mayaya, the grouping advised Mtambo not to hand himself over to police because it believes the three HRDC leaders did not do anything wrong in planning to hold demonstrations.

Southern African Human Rights Defenders Network (SAHRDN), based in Johannesburg, has sisnce  issued a statment expressing “reasonable apprehension and fear” for the lives of Trapence and Sembereka, pointing out that anything is possible to be done against them while they are detained, including torture, inhuman and other degrading treatment as well as poisoning.”

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87 replies on “Chakwera vows to lead Malawi protests march to State House: Demands release of activists”

  1. Nobody will stop us Ansah must fall MEC leave the office please Peter Mutharika sign up for the new reforms bills you will not rest until you hear out our voices viva Malawi freedom is coming tomorrow. Jane Ansah can’t lead the forthcoming elections again this is our msg to Peter fire Jane Ansah and the MEC team.

  2. Tsiku lokufa nyani mtengo umatelela,DPP nthawi yanu yatha,ndipo mumangidwadi,anthu anji inu ndenkumati
    lozani zanu chimene inuyo mwapanga ndi pitala choti mutha kuloza ndi chani? miyala yamaziko basi pano yapanga
    ndelenso,kumene nyapapiyu akugona anamanga ndindani? kumaganiza ndiponso kumakhala anthu okonda dziko lanu look now mukungokweza zinthu COF pano K 21,000.00 for what? STEP DOWN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

  3. What you create is what you get in life , what you want to happen to others is what happen to you in your life in future , our sons are hearing and seeing what we want them to be in future . You are creating a thing that will no amended or changed in life , President Mzuma create Malema and the same Malema destroy Mzuma

  4. This is why Chakwera will never rule this Nation Malawi – he is a power hungry man – I wonder why he chooses to be always in front of BAD things – believe you me as long as you continue associating with people who are inciting violence you automatically miss the blessings of God = Now go and ready the Book of Psalms 1 vs 1 – 6 and see what God is saying of you???????? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Your role as a Pastor is to call for peacefull mediation and call for prayers and fasting these are the only demos used by true Christian. Real Christians do not express their anger on the streets but biblically they go fasting with prayers and by doing so God intervenes and answers their prayers.

  5. Chakwera, it is your right to demonstrate, nobody can stop you from your decision. However, the Security personnel have also a right to do their job perfectly in situations which are rough by nature. So don’t be surprised if the Security also treat you equally the way they can treat Vendor because you and the vendor are just the same with the aim of causing havoc. So, go we will meet you there.

  6. What is so special about State House? It is not Mutharika’s personal property, it actually belongs to the people. A fully grown educated professor screaming at the rally almost in tears ” You will not get state house”!!….like a baby afraid of losing his toy?

    In the USA where this low energy sleepy president of ours spent most of his life, there are daily protests held at the gates of the White House. It is seen as a democratic right, in some cases the President even goes down and mingles with the demonstrators. That is democracy. Not what this crybaby is doing, he cant even drive around without being surrounded by a battalion of soldiers armed with machine guns. What are you afraid of? your own shadow perhaps? The elections are happening soon and you are going to lose. Then we will seen you at the courts for the corrupt practices, which involve your own wife all the way to your useless cabinet.

  7. Some few weeks ago DPP supporters marched to the State House why were not arrested?Does this law applies to certain people only?This is not what we fought for in 1993,its like we are going backwards now.

    1. Marching only is allowed but sealling the state house is a crime it’s like you want to over throw the government.

  8. pitala anapatsa jeni 20 million basitu tipex. tosefe tinadzuka 2am kukafola pa nzere kokavuta inu mutakupatila azikazanu ,azimunananu kumimba ife kumafa ndi kamphepo kammamawa kaja inu mukusangalala kuti mwawina kale zitsilu tazipusitsa.
    cifukwa ca umbuli kuti simungatipusise tose lelo mwayamba kuotana ma aluya atatu anabwera aja kuti azasokonozeso, mukunyatu, a malawi a dzana lomwe lija ,lelo ntaaa.

    2. Arresting chakwera hahaha you are starting fire 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 oooooh try it you will see how your fell Malawians will react and how many people do you wanna put in custody for the freedom fighting?

  11. Malawi police, why not let the army protect the state residences instead of rushing to arrest people who have not broken the law yet

  14. To all peace loving Malawians let’s keep guard to these HRDC men as u all know the Israelis are here, poisoning the HRDC team might be part of their mission.

    They will put poison on their Bed sheets and once they sleep their they will conduct radioactive then the poison will be eating them little by little till almost a year or so without them knowing . That’s how Yasa Arafat the leader of Palestinian died.

  15. Anthu akwanu ku Lilongwe komweko akudandaula kuti chibwerereni Chakwera pa mpando umenewu zinthu ku Lilongwe zikubvutira chifukwa cha ziganizo zomwe a chakwera akumapanga ,ma demo amene mukufuna kuti mupange mukuononga anthu akwanu ku Lilongweko pomwe Blantyre ili pheeee anthu ku Blantyre zinthu zikuyenda chifukwa anthu ambiri si a nyau sanabvale zigoba pa nkhope pawo kunamizira kuti ndi zilombo pomwe ku Lilongwe kuli zilombo zambiri zooneka ngati anthu .

    1. Zaboza inensotu ndi mlomwe waku Mulanje kwa sitilo Ta Chikumbu zomwe ukulankhulazo nzaboza
      ndipo unazitenga kuti,uzifunsa kaye ife amene tili ku capitol kuno.Uzisamala pakamwa pakopo.

    2. Blantyre zinthu zikuyenda yet njala imakusinjilani limodzi since November to February kusowa pogwila cash nso mulibe achitsiru inu abwana anuwo ma dollars akugonela pansi pa bed zitsiru inu basi kutengela Kuti ndi wakwanu or zikuonongeka. Munthu waubongo sangasapote zopusa zili ku DPP. Mankhwala misewu ku Blantyre kwanuko kulibe just like every general hospital ku Malawi what a nonsense is this you talking

  16. JT as he was commonly known was the MCP president for many years and indeed he was a model and an apprentice of Kamuzu politics which were anchored on four cornerstones and he believed in dialogue if there were disputes. But currently we have this so called reverend. laways thirsty of blood and this time he wants to join his fellow terrorists to take over government. Take my word, Chakwera will never rule this country .

  18. DPP BBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDDD PPPPPPEEEEEEOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPPPLLLLLLLLEEEEEE FUL OF EEEEVVVVVIIIIILLLLL😣😣😣😣😣😣

  19. The DPP government is practicing colonial politics in this modern world. The some misinformed minds collided with the president to preach the politics of arresting justice in disguise of keeping order. That is the same politics that John Chiluwe fought against. So too Kamuzu Banda. Thinking beyond we talk of Kwame Nkrumah, Kenyatta, Kaunda and many others. Bakali tried and he killed many, so too Bingu wa Mutharika and now his younger brother. History can judge that such politics did not help these leaders may their souls Rest In Peace. Arresting and killing others only tarnished their image. They never wine their battles when people wanted to oust them. While some of them died in office yet majority were humiliated and their were forced out of power. What we see on Malawi is a replay of such. Nothing will help DPP government. Simply put, release the two patriotic citizens and nurture peace. May God bless Malawi.

  21. Takhala tikunena all along kuti a hrdc amapangidwa support ndi MCP/UTM lero siizi zikuwonekelazi. Malamulo akunena momveka bwino kuti demonstrators cannot go beyond 100 meters from state house gates koma iwo akuti akatseka state house. From which laws

    Uku kunali kuishosha dala so that an anarchy can be hastened.

    Koma chomwe mudziwe ndichokuti its easy to start a war but its not was to have peace

  22. If we want the best for this Country, we have to send back this old Animal to the green card country or just kill him. This is not his country he failed this nation already! what more does he want ? He can not decide this peaceful country we are sick and tired of his shit. He must go to hell and rest in peace enough is enough.

  23. Tribal war that’s nonsense. How many northerners and Central people are in the south vise vesa
    Kulankhula ndikuganiza mwachibwana. Malawiians never be fooled. Some of these people talking about tribal war they are not with us here in Malawi. They are in foreign countries. The person who is talking about tribal war he is in a foreign country . Don’t listen to such thugs.

  24. Chakwera. The holy spirit deserted him because he is full of evil..He has been sending people to hunt and kill albino because his aim was to tarnish government image and now his thugs are in custody and he is demanding their release so that they should continue to terrorise our country. Students in future will be learning about this thug called Ntambo and Chakwera and if you come to state house this will be the final show down and Chakwera will regret the day he joined politics. Now enough is enough and we don’t mind if Malawi will be listed as a violator of human rights. But these people atikwana.

    2. Bible anasetera Chakwera. Kunangokhala cover yokha basi. Dikilani mumasewera ndi chauta. Selfishness basi

  25. Come and arrest me stupidity president of malawi. Why you didn’t request MDF AND POLICE TO STOP DPP DEMONSTRATIONS LAST WEEK? And are you telling me that us we are not Malaysians? Fuck you and your POLICE toilet paper

  27. He should be very careful in the way he is going to deal with this rabid dog. Him and Mtambo may be the real persons of interest. We want him to remove Peter at the ballot. His death would be a disservice to the nation which is on autopilot.
    We have already discussed the issue of sealing the state house as promulgated by the rabid dogs. The is no law which prohibits the citizens from demonstrating outside the 100 meters from the state house.

  30. Iyu nde alipamwamba pa lamulo?
    Adamwalira wa polisi no statement issued but these people statement,abusa amenewo

  32. kikikikiki i have never seen a politician who led protests and won. Ask Kiza besigye pa uganda, or chamisa pa zimbabwe or Guaido ku venezuela. Marching to statehouse and you are guaranteed to lose. Abusa mwazelezekatu. Ndipo the 5 concourt judges are becoming smaller everyday for siding with childish and small minded politicians like chakwera. Tikamati Abusa is a weakling this is the proof…Very sad and immature leadership nabola njobvuyalema was tough.

  33. APM knows he will lose the election, so he is busy trying to buy time with manufactured crises. He could have signed the electoral laws kalekale but he is sitting phwii on purpose. Trying to justify a postponement.

  34. Some of us spent 40 years in USA enjoying life. I can not understand that you still think I came back for peace. I am bloody thirsty. At 80 years I have nothing to lose but to divide you and leave you killing each other. The devil in me hate peace. I found peace in this country but I will lead you to war and blood shed for you and your children to come. That is the mission Satan sent me to do. I am only accepting UDF the party I hate most becuase it will allow me to fulfil my mission in Malawi.

    1. Anthu a bodza inu. Mukudziwa akuyambitsa ndi akupanga zosokoneza koma mukuloza ena. Vuto ndi inu siboma.

  36. It is our tinpot dictator Mutharika who is contravening the laws of the land with each passing day because of his ignorance and lack of respect for the laws of Malawi. The ConCourt erred in allowing our tinpot dictator to over-see the court ordered fresh elections fully well knowing he has no respect for laws of the land and undemocratic he is by nature and as such will continue to frustrate and obstruct the preparations for the court-ordered fresh elections. Our hope is the appeal judgment will come with an order to constitute ‘a coalition or interim government of national unity’ to help prepare for the court-ordered fresh elections. It is clueless Mutharika who is intentionally causing the chaos so that he can declare ‘a state of emergency’ and suspend the Constitution to allow him do as he wills where he feels hampered.

  37. The military will take Govt nditu like Mugabe style where is stupid dpp politics are going!! I see this mark my words!!

  38. Foseki
    DPP leadership are planning to kill Mtambo, Sembereka, Twopence. Let me tell you if anyone of them dies then Malawi will burn. We know who is behind all this. We also know where you stay. We also know your children so watch your back.

  39. The conduct of the notorious ex-reverend fake accent nyolonyo Lezala never cease to amaze me. We have all seen the video where he and his terrorist organization paid up henchmen plotted to make the country ungovernable. The last week the terrorists led by the north Korean m’burundi were displaying total impunity and arrogance in totalitarian tones as if they are above the law. He conveniently put his tiny thin lips together, mum. Suddenly he wants to lead what the terrorist were plotting, to seal statehouses. Is he not ashamed? Let him meet us on the ground so that he can truly shed the blood he has been longing for. Message to Lezala: Udzatsanzikiretu ku Kasiya usanabwere ku Blantyre idiot.

  40. It is an offence to think of storming the State House, in fact this Government has been tolerant enough to allow violent demonstrations without arresting its Leaders, our Laws are so supreme and above any ambition of an individual wanting to occupy the state house. You can lead the demonstrations to State Hose which is breaking the Law and you will be arrested or not depending on the Police discretion. Mr Chakwera what you can do is only to demand and Pressurerise the Govt to Release the HRDC. In Zambia the opposition President Hichilema tried to be above the Law, wanted cheap popularity, he was arrested and kept in prison for almost a year because he was on the wrong side of the Law and that can happen to you Sir. Its fine and within the constitutional right to demonstrate, but demonstrating by breaking the Law is not allowed and it will be lack of wisdom from your side and this will dent your image and reputation Sir.

  42. That is the Chakwela I know, alliance yavuta nde akufuna to confuse malawians, A Pastor amenewa.

    3. I understand the proposed MCP/ UTM Alliance, which no doubt has the blessing and full support of Malawians especially the youth, is now a reality. I, therefore, don’t know what “Truth” is talking about.

    4. To confuse people over what?The problem with people is,when we fought for multiparty and freedom of expression you were not born no wonder you are supporting these stupid ideas of threatening people are opposition their bad type of government.Even your stupid APM in 1993 was not there.

  43. Exactly. If Peter has the guts, let him arrest Chakwera. Let him keep arresting all of us until he finally understands that his time is up

    1. The blood-thirst who killed Supt Usman Imedi at Msundwe will be arrested this time after being thoroughly washed with stones. Ask Billy Mayaya. Lezala Chakweranso ndani.

  44. Awatulutse palibe chomwe alakwa. APM is only remote controlled by his tired ministers, what a shame. 5 million demo apa de aiputa dala.

    1. HRDC has been destroying our properties and businesses. They should be arrested and put into jail.

  46. Anything credible left for Malawi Police Service???? To make matters worse headed by an acting IG?? Truth is: Confirmation for this appointee has failed, let them propose another name period!!!
    The country is leaderless so is the police. Are we citizens safe???

  47. Mthalika ndi Muluzi ndi amene mukuononga Malawi musawatengere amalawi kutonso Malawi siwa Muluzi ndi Mthalika and ndi Gangster mbabva yachabe chabe Muluzi ndi criminal anapha Matafale

    1. NO. HRDC are the ones destroying the country. MCP and UTM are the ones destroying our country and we have to make a stand and say ENOUGH is ENOUGH.

    2. Huh…iwe muthu womwambwana kwabasi. EMUSIPI inapha ma thousand aatumbuka (e.g. Mkwapatila Mhango ndi banja lonse, Yatuta Chisiza, Duduzu Chsisza), ena osakhala atumbuka (Dick Matenje, Twaibu Sangala, Aaron Gadama Maboma 9, David Chiwanga),ndi kuwotcha mudzi wonse wa moto. Amboni anazunzidwa ndikubeledwa katundu wao ndi EMUSIPI chifukwa cha khadi ya 3t. Lero ana awo ndi zidzukulu zawo akunzunzika ndi umphawi. For your information, the EMUSIPI headquarters was built using these looted resources. Mwina you were not born yet kapena makolo ako anali asanakumane kuti ubadwe iwe. Nde usamati mfwiii mfwiii, yavi yavi pano on things that you don’t know, nthumbidwa iwe.

      1. Tikhobolana ndi amene akutiputa, ndipo auzeni anthu ali kuminda yathu ino kuti asamukiletu,tionetsa tsopano kuti ulendo uno zada.

    2. Am from the North, but i can’t support this rubbish. Palibe za Tribal apa, these so called hrdc are not fighting for Malawi, but for MCP. I voted for Chilima on May 19, 2019 and now UTM has joined forces with MCP the Party i hate most. I see myself not voting.

    3. A very stupid and a cursed person. there will be no War in Malawi,we are in a democratic dispensation, Mutharika is not there permanently this is his last term so whats the use of inciting people to fight?We are praying and we have prayed for peace and any difference Politically, we have the Courts, Parliament and many other Govt Organs to sort out a mess

  49. Here comes a master minder of HRDC Thugs.Tikamati abusawa amawatuma anyamata a HRDC kuti awononge dziko umboni ndi umenewu.
    Komatu pamachitidwe a zinthu mmm chilima amawaposa abusawa.samazipaka nawo manyi ngat amachitila abusa

    1. He is a freedom fighter, that’s Chakwera I know. Nanga Manyi yanu mukuti President azimanga anthu lero? Sitifooka ndipo simutiletsa. Kill them, muthawa pano.

  50. Chakwera has sank very low here. You can’t go an protest at State House as leader of opposition. You can’t be supporting HRDC thugs.

    1. The leadership of this country is the one that has nothing to do with national interest.If God comes today and judge who us the devil who has started all this mess for innocent Malawians Chakwera or Peter.You will see how the devil will be defeated soon.Anthu enieni annointed by God ayamba kuyendetsa dzikoli mokomela ngakhale inu mukunena za mwana PANO mchifukwa cha tribalism ndi regionalism.You think leadership will be in the south for ever.F9rget it.Boma likuchoka kumwera KWA zake 50 zikubwerazi.Achotse ndi Mulungu WA ma kwanu.Amene ramayana kutengela ana ake ku moyo.What is so special in you to rule than those from the north and centre.Shame on you.

    2. Osadanda a former busawa adadziyipisikake palibe Chao. Akaphunzitsa mwana kutukwana neba mawa amatukwana iwe omwe kuti umvetse

  51. Chakwera, you are evil. You have been sending these HRDC to be terrorising us. A pastor who is so power hungry that you have been using violent means to get power. Shame on you.

    1. So you still support Tippex President who is an American citizen.
      I also put the blame on Bakili Muluzi for bringing in the shit family of Machona family of Muthalika. In fact they run away because during that time they supported Azungu and these were Capricorn.

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