CSOs cautioned on airports shutdown: National self-destruction to cost Malawi K1bn
Civil Society Orgaisations (CSOs) under the banner of Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) have been cautioned to tread carefully over the self-destruction to the nation the planned airport and border shutdown will have huge negative impact to the country’s economy.
HRDC said it wants airport and border entry points shutdown for five days from this August 26 aimed at forcing President Peter Mutharika to fire Jane Ansah as Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson since she has refused the calls to resign for allegedly presiding over fraudulent May 21 Tripartite Elections..
However, commentators have cautioned HRDC that their proposed action – a copy cat from Hong Kong protests – seems suicidal, as this may worsen the already ailing economy and that the grouping should reflect on who will be the biggest loser – the millions of Malawians or the MEC chair.
Reports say should the protests affect the airports, a total 32 flights are at risk of disruption with Malawian Airlines being the hardest hit. About 18 flights to be grounded, 32 international flights to be taken off Malawi skies and the government will lose K100 millionin landing, airport service fees.
Department of Civil Aviation deputy director (Regulation) James Chakwera said airports shutdown could see aviation players and government lose revenue in excess of K 1 billion.
“It is very sensitive to disruptions such as cancellations and delays, the cost could even be higher than K1 billion,” Chakwera said in quotes reported by the local press.
HRDC chairperson Timothy Mtambo on Tuesday said the grouping is aware of the huge negative impact the airport and border shutdown will have on the country’s economy.
He said this next wake of demonstrations should “propel President Peter Mutharika, as the appointing authority, to fire Jane Ansah as MEC chairperson.”
President Mutharika has ignored calls for Ansah’s removal in the past three months.
Given the extent of the demonstrations’ damage thus far, the HRDC are being advised to wait upon the courts and those pursuing dialogue on the impasse.
And president of Insurance Association of Malawi (IAM) Donbell Mandala has said property worth billions of kwacha, destroyed during the Anti-Ansah demonstrations will go uncompensated because insurance companies do not indemnify damages caused by political and civil riots.
Nationwide protests broke out across the country following opposition political parties’ displeasure at how the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) managed the 2019 Tripartite Elections.
President Peter Mutharika was re-elecred with just 39% of the vote in a wide field. His opponents, led by runner-up Lazarus Chakwera, accused Mutharika’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of tampering with results in some parts of the country.
Efforts to block Mutharika’s inauguration failed and protesters have been on the street ever since. In some instances their activities have turned violent, but the court has upheld their right to demonstrate despite regime efforts to shut down the protests.
Attorney General has taken up the matter to Supreme Court of Appeal to save the nation from more self-destruction through the demonstrations.
The country has essentially been at a three-month standstill and commentators say there should be sobriety at what is good for the country in the long run.
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anthutu amakonda odya naye zakuba. yes noone is going to die for mtambo. he is an eye opener.
just like pitala is the no 1 corruptor.
in this time of disagreements he sends the 2 ladies to UK with hefty loads of £ to spend.he is paying the lawyers to shield him .
mupwetekekatu.
milandu ya ma albino ophedwa congochula ntaba in the team basi zose zii koma afuna kuimba mlandu omwe anamenya dausi. crazy mind.
njauju,chasowa, mwana wa kamuzu ija dzamalala sanamalize post moterm ija???????
nanga Lule munamuicha uja in the name of natural death!!!!!!!!
This country is not worthy dying for Mr Mtambo
Mangalimoto anga ndikupasani osafooka tiyenazoni a galu amenewa said dziwa chomwe tikufuna mxieee
Jane Ansah goes or the economy tanks. Simple choice. A serious administration would have already fired her but these dunderhead dimwits want to gamble the entire economy to save the person who gave them election. So sink the economy we shall. Mutharika and his thieves have chosen Ansah over the economy and the people of Malawi. So be it.
Judges should stand up to protect their fellow judge from these terrorist. The option now remaining is for Jane Ansah to move the courts to declare that she is being subjected to mob justice and if the lebel leader Ntambo believes there was any electoral misconduct he should bring such evidence and be a witness to Chakwela and Chilima. In all fairness Ntambo should have resigned from MESN and HRC because he has been found to lack principals by signing for electoral result and then come back to disown the same results that he signed for. If he got any allowances at MESN he should return the money.
Judges can’t stand up to defend corrupt judge Jane Ansah but they will stand up to defend justice otherwise their reputation as well will go in the mud
Issues are in court and let the court determine IF ELECTIONS WERE REALLY FRAUDULENT AS YOU PUT IT…MTAMBO PA MUSUNDU PAKO WAPULIKA, NDIWE CHIZEREZA. WHAT ARE THE COURTS FOR? WHAT IF COURT DECIDE A RERUN, WHAT WILL YOU BENEFIT?
I WONDER WHAT KIND OF FREEDOM FIGHTERS ARE THESE GUYS, MULANDU ULI MUCOURT, CHIBAZI MWADYA CHONONA ETI. OBVIOUSLY, IN CASE OF RERUN JANE ASAH MAY NOT BE THE CHAIR AGAIN.
KUNGOFUNA KUWONONGA, YOU CORRUPT, WELL SPONSORED BY DIVIDED OPPOSITIONS.
I wonder too why people are mixing these two issues as same. The Case in Court is not about Jane Ansah! its about MCP, UTM,DPP and MEC.
Why can’t you people ask APM to fire this Lady?
what for idiot?
She fucked up Elections you Motherfucker! Are in Malawi or not?
This is utter stupidity by HRDC! Ansah and Mutharika are still enjoying their millions the way they would want to. Their children are abroad and if they wanted to, the would take a 1 month leave and enjoy themselves in another country while you are busy destroying property constructed by the poor man’s taxes. The one suffering and to suufer all your trashy demonstrations is the poor Malawian. Mutharika would still rule this country through to the end of the term no matter how badly he does it, he has nothing to lose. It’s the poor Malawian suffering still.
If you guys were as brave as you want people to believe, you would go to Ansah’s properties and lock her out until she resigns. If indeed you guys were courageous and ready to die as you claim, you would go to Mutharika’s residence and hold him at random til he fires Ansah as you wish. Failure to act thus is a clear indication that you don’t even know what you want, neither do you know how to get it.
All we can now see is the deficiency in your reasoning. If you continue with this nonsense, it’s not a gun that will kill you, but the bitterness felt by a suffering common Malawian. Go on ahead if you think this is a joke. Gulu limapusitsa odzasafala ndinu a Mtambo who seek your protection through serving the devil
Mtambo et al. Those who killed Robert the student and Njaunju there are out there, they wil harm you. And by now you should have realised that Peter and Jane have made up their mind not ignore.
Desperation on the part of HRDC, after all the burning and looting, Jane Ansah has stayed put…she is innocent until proven guilty by the concourt if it nullifies the elections….Mtambo hona akunange mutu please slow down you are creating enemies for yourself and your kinsmen…you are hurting people’s livelihoods and people will attack you who aren’t even in politics because your arrogance is driving them into an abyss of poverty by losing their property to your hooliganism
The lesser evil for Mutharika to do is remove Ansah at the expense of the million Malawians
If we make that much money just from airports and borders over such a short period where does it go? What do we have to show for it? We dont benefit from it so we really lose nothing. In fact that is more reason to shut those things down. If we Make on billion in five days. In 365 days it means we make 93 billion just from airports. Where does it go? Kapena akunama?
Ndipo angoni I asked myself the same question. Where is this money going????
The best thing is for the Army and Police to defend these strategic places even if possible using force. HRDC must know its limits, democracy has a Limitt, going beyond that is a provocation, Mr Mtambo should not expose the people to the dangers of being killed or maimed, we dont want to see blood shed. It is high time the President has to act, any plan to invade the Aiport as being advocated must me met with a strong action or arrests without bail.
Ntambo is very myopic. He is further blinded by the MWK60m which has been contributed by various Judas Iscariots of this generation. Government should step in prevent this stupidity. If idiots Ntambo, Arafat and fake accent cannot listen to the voice of reason, I call upon state security agencies to deal with them in the manner we saw in Harare yesterday. Ask me for details. Malawi is for 18 million people not just these misguided and greed-infected idiots.
I suppose that’s the cost Malawians have to pay to get rid of DPP/APM who have cost the country a thousand times.ore than the K1b.
K100 million loss to maalwi economy is nothing. If Rango can blow K80 million kupota ku graduation ya mwan wake
Rango? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. Koma guys mpaka first lady mwamupatsa dzina la chinanzikambe chija? Kkkkkkkkkk
Munthu akamafuna kumwalira amayamba ndi makutu Ku gontha ,,,,Amtambo ali pafupi kumwalira kunyumba kwa amutharika sadziwako
DEMONSTRATIONS MUST CONTINUE —WHETHER MALAWI LOSES OR GAINS BILLIONS OF KWACHAS ONLY MATTERS TO CADETS NOT ORDINARY MALAWIANS —-AS WE ARE TALKING NOW GERTRUDE ANSAH JUDITH CHIMULIRENJI AND THEIR ZEALOTS ARE STILL IN THE UK
ON TAX PAYERS MONEY —–WHILE THE PRICES OF NECESSARY COMMODITIES SUCH AS MAIZE AND THE LIKE ARE SKY ROCKETING — PUNISHING COMMON PEOPLE —– WHAT KIND OF STUPIDITY IS THIS ?
This is nonsense you have gone beyond of control Ntambo where are you taking Malawi to others will be in big mess whose going to benefit at the of this chaos
This is nonsense where taking you must all these chaos at the end others will be in big mess whose going to benefit
Prove these protest wrong by firing Jane Ansah. For sure even if Jane does not resign is she thinking that she will manage any election in Malawi or evening holding any senior position in the public and private sectors? The reputation of Jane Ansah has been damaged forever. Even in Heaven suppose she does today I do not think she has a place there. She needs to repent now.
tikukagona pa air port….
Idiots! Complaining about lost revenue due to demonstrations, what about revenue lost due to corruption? Issue of revenue should not be scapegoat, that is obvious and it should compel APM to act. Just fire Ansah period.
No Mr Ntambo ! you are just bent on destroying the country! you have absolutely no right to demand that Jane Ansah gets fired and you have no right to destroy Malawi the way you are destroying it! you are one selfish ignorant man who does not care about Malawi.! Can you really justify destroying a whole country because YOU want one person fired? Have you been hearing the court proceedings? Why don’t you leave it to the courts to sort out Jane Ansah You are an agent of destruction and the country needs to hold you and your bosses accountable in thge sternest way possible. DESTROYER that’s what you are. You actually have no idea what rights are!!! MALAWIANS HAVE A RIGHT TO LIVE PEACEFULLY IN THEIR COUNTRY. Are you really Malawian? I ask? to be very honest you are the one that needs to be fired.