Malawi airports, borders will operate normally – Government
Minister of Homeland Security Nicholas Dausi and Minister of Information Mark Botomani have a addressed a news conference on Friday assuring that all airports and land borders will remain open and operate normally despite Human Rights Defenders Coalition’s (HRDC) planning five-day demonstrations targeting the country’s port of entry and airports.
The two Cabinet ministers said people should know that there will be security to be provided by the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) and Malawi Police Service (MPS)
Dausi said closing of borders is an act of treason hence government will do its best to protect the boarder.
“The government will strive to make sure that Malawi is a peaceful country and stable. We will not allow anybody to shut dhown the airports and loand borders,” said Dausi.
He said the planned demonstrations will have a negative economic effect to the country, citing the cancellation of International Monetray Fund (IMF) two mission visits to Malawi due to security concerns over political unrest.
The two ministers stressed that airports are protected places and areas according to a 22 August 2019 Malawi Gazette supplement of Government Notices Number 59 where the Ministry of Homeland Security has the power to make orders to declare airports and borders, Capital Hill protected areas.
“Plans to disrupt border and airports are not in the spirit of peaceful demonstrations. Clearly, they are an act of aggression with the aim of undermining the State and threatening national security,” said Botomani, who is also government spokesman.
He said government will not allow the national security to be breached and the rights of those not taking part in the demonstrations subverted.
“The point has to be emphasised that the right to demonstrate is not a supreme right. As such, government wishes to assure the general public and the international community that measures have been put in place to ensure that our airports an borders continue to operate normally during the period of the planned demonstrations,” Botomani said.
The Cabinet ministers statements come after President Peter Mutharika has ordered police and the MDF to “stop the demonstrations”, accusing the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) leader Lazarus Chakwera and his UTM Party compatriot Saulos Chilima of attempting to take over the government unlawfully by supporting the HRDC demonstrations.
Mutharika said previous demonstrations the HRDC have conducted to force Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah to resign for allegedly presiding over flawed elections have been unlawful as they were marred with looting and attacks on people.
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The damage has already been done. Meetings and flights have already been cancelled for the initial four days of the demos. With aeroplane you book, its not like minibus where you just go and board.
UTM, HDRC and MCP you are realizing that you will lose the case in court and you start another way of Coup d’etat through demonstration. Professor taught you a lesson of non violent demos and his ready to deal with you.
You have to accept your defeat and prepare for next run.
Shame on you
Mwabeledwa ma voti ake ati? Ine i didn’t vote for your party so don’t you come here and say mwabeledwa ma vote…. Don’t you understand the term LOOSING? Akumbwambwana nzanu anakuyambisani kunena zoti mwabeledwa uja uko ku Court….. Since y’all gays n lesbians u wanna match with your hidden agenda of movements for civil rights promoting LGBT.
Dausi what are you trying to protect. We know you are the ones pampering that Old man Peter to stick to power when his mind is shutting down. DPP has failed Malawian in so many ways. Up to now, we cant fly from Chileka to UK, USA, SINGAPORE DUBAI. Malawi is a laughing stock in southern Africa. Our airports are terrible. The school system is broken down. Yet you and your Aunt Ansah are sharing our resources. We have so many professors yet very little work on the ground. We thank God for people like Mtambo who are bold enough… Read more »
I like it now the pot is burning,, I hope where ever Jen Asa is she is going to die with stress
ILLEGITIMATE TIPPEX DAUSI BOTOMANI ANSAH MADANDO 147 GOVERNMENT ——-
That’s the RED LINE. If Mtambo dares to fly too close to the sun the wax in his wings will melt. This economic sabotage stops here.
Very true, it’s treasonous….
Treasonous kuti. Know the consititution, ubulutu wa dausi ukuonekelathu.
Mr Dausi, demos should go ahead because you and your DPP are the ones destroying Malawi and bringing negative economic effect. Party full of thieves, all what you know is to drain the Country. Dausi, call your fellow DPP and ask them how many villages or singapores are building across Malawi with Tax payers money? You guys are joking with Malawians. The plunder is just insane. Do not think Malawians are stupid and naive. We know , you are protecting this tippex govtto cover your evil acts. Go to Kamuzu Central Hospital and see how people are suffering and you… Read more »
mukunamatu inu. mukuzinyenga… tikumana kunseu….