Malawi anti-govt protests to go ahead- CSOs

Malawi civil-society groups are determined to go ahead with their planned anti-government peaceful demonstrations on Tuesday January 13, 2015 and have disowned a statement claiming they have been postponed.

The demonstrations  spokesman Timothy Pagonachi Mtambo , the executive director of Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR), said there is “propaganda” claiming the demonstrations have been cancelled, saying they are going ahead with streets protests.

“We would like to dismiss the press statement being circulated stating that CSOs have cancelled [Tuesday, January 14] demonstrations. The statement, being circulated, has not been authored and signed by the concerned institutions,” said Pagonachi Mtambo.

“This is cheap propaganda aimed at frustrating our efforts for a better Malawi. Tomorrow’s demonstrations are going on as planned and all details we  circulated today remain intact,” Mtambo told Nyasa Times on Monday evening.

The street protests targets the country’s First Lady Gertrude Mutharika whose Beautify Malawi Trust (BEAM) is being accused of bulldozing its way to get a K5 million grant from the National Aids Commission (NAC).

Other body targeted are the tribal grouping Mulhakho wa Alhomwe whose patron is the country’s President Arthur Peter Mutharika. The grouping is also said to have benefitted from NAC finds.

Apart from BEAM the activists have included deteriorating state of governance and socio-economic living conditions in Malawi as part of their petition to government.

Demo routes

The following are the routes agreed by both CSOs and Malawi Police Service for the demonstrations:

LILONGWE: Kamuzu Central Hospital Roundabout via Lingadzi Roundabout via NAC offices via Parliament then deliver the petition at the Civic Offices.

MZUZU: Katoto via Mzuzu Clock Tower via Mzuzu High Court roundabout and then deliver the petition at Civic offices;

ZOMBA: Community ground via Mponda School then Zomba district assembly to deliver the petition;

KARONGA: Karonga roundabout then direct to Karonga district assembly to deliver the petition;

BLANTYRE: Upper Stadium via High Way and then deliver the petition at the CIVIC Offices.