Court orders Mutharika to receive CSOs petition: Protestors to use their demo routes

The High Court has granted the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) an order to use routes of their choice in the Friday’s anti-government demonstrations and that President Peter Mutharika should personally receive their petition on governance concerns.

Protestors set to match

The civil society organisations (CSOs) sought court intervention after Lilongwe City Council (LCC) and the Malawi Police Service (MPS) gave stringent conditions of their protests, saying the demonstrations should only take a period of two hours and thirty minutes from 7.00 am to 9.30 am at which time they shall be called off and the place for delivery of the petition is the LCC Civic Offices at city centre and nowhere else.

But in his ruling, Judge Charles Mkandawire ordered that the conditions imposed by Lilongwe City Council be set aside.

“That consequently, the applicants [Timothy Mtambo, Gift Trapence and Billy Mayaya] shall use the time and route indicated in the notification letter dated 3rd September 2018 and the demonstrations shall start at 7am from Lilongwe Community ground via Mchesi via Central Hospital roundabout via Lingadzi roundabout via Parliament then deliver the petition to the State President at the Capital Hill,” reads the ruling by the court.

The order means that only President Mutharika can receive the petition, according to lawyer William Chiwaya representing the CSOs.

Chiwaya said failure by President to receive the petition would be regarded as contempt of court.

But Chief Secretary to the Government, Lloyd Muhara said President Mutharika is scheduled to leave the country for New York to attend the 73rd United Nations General Assembly (Unga).

HRDC chairperson Timothy Mtambo said they are prepared with the demonstrations and they will stick with their planned routes.

He said protesters are being asked put on colours in the Malawi national flag: red, black and green   which marks a shift from the norm of red t-shirts.

In Mzuzu, the demonstrators plan to March from Upper Stadium through Mataifa Market and High Court Roundabout to the Civic Offices where the new petition is expected to be delivered.

The demonstrations, whose theme is Restoring our Destiny, are a follow up to HRDC’s April 27 ten-point petition against poor governance which the group claims government did not fully address.

The CSOs, among other issues, want government to address worsening corruption in the country and theft of fuel worth K 1.9 billion at Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom).

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#DzukaniAmalawi
#DzukaniAmalawi
5 years ago

Obviously Mutharika doesn’t care and has given the CSOs the middle finger all the time. I don’t know why CSOs are so obsessed with Peter who had demonstrated his disregard and distaste for the people. The trip to the US is more important than engaging with his people who are dying of hunger. 71% of the population is living below the breadline. That’s a serious indictment on DPP-led govt. This should be enough to fire the entire cabinet/executive. Its ground enough to impeach the president as he has lost touch with very people that voted him into power.

Achiswe
5 years ago

If UNGA doesn’t begin until 25th then perhaps he is leaving early so that he and his entourage can do some shopping in the States. In any case he loves to attend the UN to promote his own self-importance. Not to receive the petition only serves to prove that he is in self-denial over his failure as President. And yet he firmly maintains that he will be re-elected in May 2019! Sadly he is totally delusional and refuses to face facts. He is in for a big shock!

Duduzane
5 years ago

@Watson ndikufuna upite kwanu rikalowe mnyumba mwako ngati sitikapezamo mavuto osowa poponda. Koma busy kuchisapota chidude chi ntchona chopanda manyazi. Chinali ku America sichingapange chotukula dziko koma kupakula. Tionesana 2019. I am from the south but sindingasekerere zopusa chifukwa President zachokera kummwera ndiye ndizisekelera zilizonse. Mcp boma basi.

wilchrispe
wilchrispe
5 years ago

What the court has said its something important to we malawians.and the president indeed has to receive the petetion if he refuses to receive the petetion we definately know that,this president and his cabinet they have failed.ALANDIRE NDIPO AYAKHE ZOMWEZIRI MCHIKALATCHO

ndele
ndele
5 years ago

-kulibe system ku malawi kuno as we know ena amangodzuka nkulamula kuti eskom iombe ma kastoma zimacitika MRA kuipatsa target yaaaa ndalama zoti igwemula anthu wamba zimacitika -opanda kucititsa register sim card yao k5 million zimacitka. aiwala kuti anthu mmidzimu misonkho yao ndi yomwe akugulila magalimoto athwanithwaniwa -wina amangodziwa kuyamba kugulitsa ma passport kwa amwenye ndi alendo obwerawa zimacitka ndipo wina kungobwera avekele tisinthe ma passport. zacitika. nde zasintha ciani -wina kungodzuka kuyamba kugulitsa malo kwa ma nigeria, ma burundi, ma kenya mopanda kutsata lamulo, zimacitka -wina kudzuka kudzati ma fees asapelekedwe ku secondale mpaka titaziwisidwa zzacitika -kwatsala kuno tizingopdzala… Read more »

Whistler
Whistler
5 years ago

Komadi atumbuka ndi okuda ndi othimbilira ndi mtima omwe. Always pa nseu?

Wachiyao
Wachiyao
5 years ago

Bwana President, the main complaint that people have against you is that you are a dictator and have no regard for the welfare of the nation. Here is an opportunity for you to prove them wrong. What you do about this court ruling will either gain you respect and votes or will deprive you of these two. Sir, 2019 is not far. Surely you don’t want to prove that you have no regard for the law as well? This is an opportunity for you to do the needful; receive the petition and then leave for UNGA. Otherwise? Kaya!

Noxy
5 years ago

Peter ndiwochekera mafumu amene aja, uku court likuti alandire petition iye uyo akuwuluka wa ku States.Kwelani ndege mumulondole nayo petitioniyo ku USA paja mmupitapita kumeneko kukamunenera maboza ana anjoka kkkkkkkkk

Ndangodutsamo
Ndangodutsamo
5 years ago

Since APM not around let him delegate SKC to receive the Petition.

Shyman
Shyman
5 years ago

No one is above the law including the Pumbwa heading to UNGA today. Landira kaye petition Mapwiya.

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