July 2011 demo victim families irked by Malawi govt delay to construct tombstones

Some families of the victims of the 20th July, 2011 anti-government demonstrations against the leadership of former president late Prof. Bingu wa Mutharika have expressed concerns with the delay in constructing tombstones at Zolozolo Cemetery in the northern region city of Mzuzu for the 21 victims who were killed by police.

The grave of the July 20 victims killed during DPP regime
The grave of the July 20 victims killed during DPP regime

Nine of the 21 victims were buried at the cemetery.

During the commemorations of the demo victims in 2012, former president Joyce Banda who became president following the death of the then Malawi leader [Mutharika] promised to build tombstones in order to provide a descent resting place for the departed souls.

Three years down the line, nothing has materialized a development that has not pleased the affected families.

“It is painful that people make promises and do not fulfill what they promise. You can feel pity if you go and see where my husband was buried. The place has grown so bushy that I have agreed with other families that we should go and clear the place. This is so shameful” said Mirriam Msuku a wife to one of the victims King Msuku.

But Banda through her spokesperson Tusekere Mwanyongo defended the move saying she made the pledge in her capacity then as the president and now that she is no longer holding the position is not responsible to complete the project.

“May you ask those in government now if they can continue with the project. Now Dr. Joyce Banda is not the president. That question is irrelevant” Mwanyongo is quoted by the Sunday Times dated 31st May, 2015.

Commenting on the same, Church and Society Executive Director Moses Mkandawire distanced his association from the promise of constructing the tombstone claiming the former president made the promise on her own.

He however called upon the bereaved to be patient enough as they are to launch negotiations with the current government to finalize the project.

Meanwhile, the Information Minister Kondwani Nankhumwa has given a green light to the idea saying only if the former head of state made the promise in her then capacity as the then president; the current leadership is ready to complete the project this is according to the Sunday Times.

About 21 Malawians died during the July 20th 2011 national wide demonstrations in protest against formed leader President Bingu wa Mutharika as the country was in economic crisis.

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TSAKHO LIMENELO
TSAKHO LIMENELO
8 years ago

Number # . .4 BATMAN whatever …# don’t think like headless chicken, this was DPP regime, Constitution law does not condone this inhuman conduct as this was unconstitutional, POLICE were instructed to monitor and police them not to kill citizens like mosquito belive you me even the THUGS, MURDERS and ROBBERIES you can name it all the way you wish…..????? but they deserved to be treated with dignity as they had RIGHT to LIFE no, no, no, no, no and no one can or may VIOLATE fundamental right. PLEASE do not JUDGE them ( victims) as they were protesting for… Read more »

Jimmy juga
Jimmy juga
8 years ago

A mayi ngati aluza ndi chifukwa chosaunikila choyenela kuyamba kuchitika pa chitukuko cha dziko. Nanga munthu ungalonjeze ziliza zipindula chani ku dziko pali zambili zofuna kuunikilidwa .No wonder she lost election and no tangible developmet during her 2 yr term.Her priority were upside down, Most of the victims were thugs , Nanga mwa anthu amene amatsogolela waphedwa ndani kusonyeza amayenda mu mseu . Okhao amene anasiya mseu kufuna kusautsa ena powabela ndi amene anakumana ndi tsoka lero mufuna akhale ma hero are we serious ngati dziko. Munsake JB amange boma ili ili ndi ntchito mankhwala apezeke mzipatala ,miseu ilimidwe ndi… Read more »

Osathawa xeno
8 years ago

Aboma tangomangani zilizazo

Batman
Batman
8 years ago

Those pple were thugs not heroes dont mislead us

Kanyimbi
Kanyimbi
8 years ago

The government has no money to send to the grave. It is better if the money can be found to be sent to hospitals or prisons. by the way if the government has not built a tombstone on a grave of John Chilembwe who are these thieves to deserve our money?

Flamingo
Flamingo
8 years ago

No wonder this country cannot develop! Is this a priority for Malawi?

Kwame
Kwame
8 years ago

Mukuti amayi analonjeza kuti azamanga manda. Iwowo amalonjeza chifukwa nthawi imeneyo anali president. Tsopano poti upresident unapita kwa peter iwowo ayenela kupitiliza ntchito yomanga manda chifukwa nkhaniyi ndi ya boma. Maboma akamasintha nchitonso za boma zimapitilizidwa ndi ndi amene alowa mu boma. Apa tiwapemphe a boma ili la dpp kuti lithandize kumanga mandawa

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