DPP take to the streets against CSOs ‘march of no confidence’

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has mobilised its supporters in the commercial capital Blantyre to be in the streets and protest against plans of some civil society organisations (CSOs) to hold nationwide demonstrations on Friday, April 27 in protest against what they  consider lack  of transparency and accountability in government.

DPP supporters in streets
DPP supporters were ferried in trucks
DPP holds counter protest to CSOs

The DPP supporters  -who were ferried trucks and other vehicles  – flooded streets of Blantyre on Thursday clad in their blue colours with a number of vehicles carrying placards against Friday’s ‘march of no confidence’.

A day before the July 20 2012 demonstrations against the late Bingu wa Mutharika regime, the DPP cadets were seen in DPP vehicles, brandishing panga knives to keep Malawians off the streets. But the demonstrations went ahead the next day.

This time around there was no brandishing of panga knives but tension was high as DPP  supporters drove around the streets.

Youth and Society executive director Charles Kajoloweka who is among the organisers of the protests said despite facing intimidation and propaganda, they are going ahead with march of no confidence in the current administration.

“It is our hope that Malawians will come and cast their vote of no confidence on April 27. As organisers, we are doing our best to raise awareness about these demonstrations. We have engaged other interested stakeholders and the citizenry. We have done our part, the rest is for the citizens to do their part,”he said.

Kajoloweka said they are going ahead with the protests and  that we will make sure they are successfully executed.

”They will take place no matter what happens. There is no possibility of postponement or cancellation or even reversal.”

Malawi Police Service, on the other hand, stated that it is ready to handle the protests and ensure that they do not degenerate into violence or any disturbances.

National Police spokesperson James Kadadzera said: “As police, we are ready to see to it that the demonstrations are held peacefully.

“We are also calling on all stakeholders, including the organisers and Malawians in general, to make sure that their constitutional right to protest is exercised in a fair manner.”

Centre for the Development of People (Cedep) executive director Gift Trapence, one of the organisers, assured people to trust them, saying they are serving the interests of Malawians at large.

In an apparent reference to the condemnation of the demonstrations by some chiefs, he described the parading of traditional leaders to discredit the protests as cheap propaganda.

Timothy Mtambo, chairperson of Human Rights Defenders Forum, said the organisers will set deadlines for the issues in the petition and return to the streets if they are not addressed.

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santana
santana
5 years ago

Don’t talk much please!!! Let us wait for the resignation of Nankhumwa and Goodall soon after the demos. The first blow was when Chilima refused to receive their toilet paper. The second blow will be when there will be no minister resigning following the demos. Let us listen to the radios or TVs this evening to see who is a fool. Just yesterday the CSOs were accusing each other for having a bigger share of money from their sponsors. Nanga iwe upezapo chiyani ukamaliza kuguba?

Asilamu Nkhondo
5 years ago

A resolution was passed in parliament to invite Scottishyard investigators on the murder of Njauju and up to now nothing is happening. Please demonstrators produce a placard on this. Two other placards shld read Reserve Bank governor and ACB director shld not be politicians. RBM is cheating us on economy and ACB is being manipulated by madala team nkhalamba

MALAWI
MALAWI
5 years ago

Nkhondo ayambitsa okha A DPP ndipo mpaka zizasinthe, dziko ndi lathu silachipani

Listen and Love
5 years ago

This is ridiculous. DPP is in the streets marching and demonstrating so that THE CSO and good willed Malawians should not demonstrate? There is no political party in Malawi that loves violence more than DPP. In fact DPP THROUGH ITS CONDUCT SINCE ITS INCEPTION IS PROVING TO MALAWIANS THAT IT IS AN ENEMY TO DEMOCRACY AND A HUGE IMPEDIMENT TO TRUE PROGRESS. COME 2019 MALAWI UNITE TO REMOVE THIS CURSE IN GOVERNMENT. MALAWI DESERVES BETTER.

Agenda Setting Theory
Agenda Setting Theory
5 years ago

Who let these dogs out????? I am sure the president was informed about this and he gave a go ahead. Zirombo mu DPP zilimodi eti

TEACHER
TEACHER
5 years ago

LEAVE THEM ALONE !!

MALAWIANS ARE USED TO POVERTY AND SUFFERING

THATS WHY THESE FIELD MARSHALS/CROOKS ARE USING THEM
LIKE SHIT HOLE

nakabushi
nakabushi
5 years ago

Just wondering if this team has also obtained police clearance to go on the road

Comrade
Comrade
5 years ago

So they are allowed to demonstrate but others can’t ,what kind of bullshit is this?

Gulewamkulu
Gulewamkulu
5 years ago

@ Joji wina another Cadet.

Minority vote president
Minority vote president
5 years ago

Mawa a Dpp mutulukenso tione tizakhapane bwino

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