Malawi govt bans 3-day demos: Police to use force to stop protesters
Minister of Information, Civic Education and Communications Technology Mark Botomani has said government is banning three-day nationwide protests starting Wednesday this week organised by Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC).
Botomani, who is official Malawi government spokesperson, said in a statement issued on Tuesday, that authorities will not grant permission to the HRDC to hold a three-day demonstration in all 28 districts of the country to allow people exercise their constitutional right to demand Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah’s resignation.
He said citizens should ignore any notice of demonstrations and not take part in the protests, saying the security forces will use “necessary force” to stop the demonstrations.
“Any person who defies the warning not to proceed with the planned demonstrations and/or not to participate in them will be stopped with necessary force by law enforcers,” Botomani said in the statement.
He said government is convinced that conveners of the demonstrations deliberately abuse the right to demonstrate to achieve other ulterior agendas.
President Peter Mutharika has also said the protests are not about elections but to usurp power from him.
Opposition political parties in the country and HRDC have been holding demonstrations in major cities for the past three months to dispute the re-election of Mutharika this May.
The demonstrations have in some cases been marred by looting and violence.
HRDC chairman, Timothy Mtambo, on Tuesday they have organised fresh rounds of protests in a bid to force Mutharika to remove Ansah as MEC chairperson, accusing her of presiding over alleged “fraudulent elections” which was marred by use of correction fluid Tippex to alter figures on result sheets.
Ansah, a judge of the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal, has dismissed the calls, saying she would only resign if the ongoing court case on the elections found her to have failed to discharge her duties.
MEC declared President Mutharika of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) winner of the presidential race in the May 21 Tripartite Elections with 1 940 709 votes, representing 38.57 percent.
He was trailed by MCP presidential candidate Lazarus Chakwera who came second with 1 781 740 votes, representing 35.41 percent while his UTM Party counterpart Saulos Chilima came a distant third with 1 018 369 votes ,representing 20.24 percent, ahead of four other aspirants.
Chilima and Chakwera filed a petition in the Constitutional Court seeking nullification of the presidential election results. They cite alleged flaws in the results management process as a key factor for their case.
The hearing is set to continue on September 3 after a week-long break following an 11-day initial process in which Chilima and one witness Mirriam Gwalidi took to the witness stand.
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Mr Botoman sir it’s not about using force against your employer, it’s about addressing the main issues. Where are the police when the tax payer money is being shared and looted by your lot.? Where is the high court when your lot are rubbishing the 5o plus one Bill in Parliament? Now it’s people’s turn, they (police) have suddenly woken up? Suddenly there is an attorney general…….suddenly there is a high court… I guess you are all part of the loot. Power has become too sweet to let go…. it’s ok to disagree. I rest my case!!
Government does not have the power to ban or stop a constitutional right. HRDC has stopped the demos because of a court order. Tipangatu ma Demo with proper shopping. Paja tikapanga a mtendere mumati tinali ku njira ya Mtanda. Tipanga tiononganso kuti muzidziwa kuti tinalidi ku ma demo
there has been an attempt by Chakwera, Chilima and HRDC to drag the army into stupid politics and the army for want of being relevant have fallen for the political hook and want to show that the police is a bad institution that is denying people rights. Open up your eyes Nundwe before you are dumped in political mud
Which government ?Do we have government in Malawi ? You mean this illegitimate TIPPEX government ??Shame shame !!
Mpwanga ukakhala usakuvomeleza mpaka 2024, umva kuwawa,
APA kwatsala court case judgment after five yes DPP mukukwana inde bwana !!!!
Hahaha koma kumeneko tinadziwa , DPP wpyeeww Jane ansah woyeee
Boma latha zelu ili
Hehehe. Adding fuel to the fire
Thank Hon Minister. I will choose to ignore these idiotic and mobocracy yobs. Let them face the music with their paymasters opusa – fake accent Yona, Arafat, Chimwendo Bada etc.
THE PROBLEM OF HAVING CHIGOGO CHOPANDA MANO AS PRESIDENT, COMPLETE USELESS!
But he is ruling you my boy willy nilly
Tuvitwana, u r a fool. U dont have facts, thats why u just support zopanda mutu.What rules is the brain and heart and not the teeth!
Cairo you are idiot….Is your what you call president having brain and heart? Your must be a big idiot fool.
At his age he must retire
Shity tipex President Malawi will remain poor. Ops he said He develop Malawi Like Singapore
If peter was you agogo ukada nyoza choncho. Bolatu iye anafika pa upulofesa wa nkalasi nanga iwe kapeni ambuyako alikuti. Malamulo a Demokalase anapanga ndi peter, anyamatanu munali kuti?
😀😀😀😀😀😀😀
Even if you refuse to grant permission, we are there to demonstrate than ever before
He who feels it knows it. Ngati muli madolo defy the Supreme Court ruling and demonstrate tikuwonereni. Kkkk, rights have responsibilities osati u savage wanuwu
Do you need to be given a permission to exercise your right?
Yes, if you abuses it. Are you surprised. Go and read the Malawi Constitution and hear what it says dude!
You are indeed a bottom man!!!!
Its very annoying for these hooligans and their Chilima and Chakwera,
Timothy Mtambo amalankhula kunya.I am very shame of Trapence who is talking much about the quarter system yet himself has been a beneficial of quarter system to be selected in the university.Selection alla along have benefitted the Notherners.Maneb had full of Thumbukas who asked their siblings to be using black pens when writing exams which was exposed later.The black pen was a passport for them to be getting the best results for them to be loaded into the universities.We had Mr Harawa at Maneb who is prsied so much for the evil of oppressing other tribes to Thumbukas.
Now on this one Saulos and Chakwera amalankhula kunya manyi amowa polephera kwawo pamaelections.The Police have been given the power to use force.MDF will be there backing the Police.
Viva Prof Peter Mutharika,Aluta contunua Malawi Police,Viva MDF,Abhasha HRDC,Abasha Chakwera,Abhasha Chilima.
Smoke them if they try it kkkk
A Mwinithako – mwalemba zambiritu. Koma za ziiiiii
Opha ndi lupanga adzafa ndi lupanga
The husband cannot say to a pregnant wife – You are banned from going into labour. Time is now for change nobody will stop it. The government cannot stop court precedents.
KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK MALAWI WATHU KAYA AKUPITA KUTI KAYA CHAUTA TITHANDIZILINE AMEN
In fact this is the notice I need to ignore, my right my choice. Game on!
Shoot to kill this time. It’s unreasonable to put a whole country at a stand still and rob and damage people’s property in the name of Jane Ansah must resign.So far we have seen there is no proof of rigging as evidence given in court. MCP and UTM and Mtambo want to bring lawlessness to our beloved Country. THIS TIME MR PRESIDENT, PLEASE USE LIVE ROUNDS!! GET THESE THUGS OFF THE STREETS.OSAOPA, AWOPA shoot!!!!
Spoken like true ignorant cadet..your time is up..all you think of is killing as your way of resolving anything..God is on our side..your devil who makes you desire blood will be nowhere to be seen..Free Malawi Now!!!
Kalumadazi shut up. Uphetsa a police. Don’t forget their homes and vehicle were burnt last time.
The devil in you that wants to see Malawians die is a failure and your ignorance speaks volumes of your character. God is on our side..You shall pay for your evil disgusting thoughts as the rest of those who condone such evil acts do…
MUKUNATU TRY IT BOTTOMAN PA MTUMBO PAKO WAMVA MUSAGANIZE KUTI DZIKO NDI LANU LOKHA MWAPUTA NKHONDO
Practically nobody can stop demonstrations. This might endanger the police itself. Court will obviously, nod to demos as provided for in the constitution of Malawi. The minister is just being overzealous by making such pronouncements, to be seen to be working by his appointing authority. I suppose he has other better things to do than attempting to block demonstrations, it has failed before and courts will apply same judgement. Government has to learn quick on such matters!!
Zauchitsiru, zausatana, zopanda ntchito
MAWA NDIWAKUNKHONDO CHIFUKWA ZIMENEZO SITIKULORA.
Botoman pamtumbo pako pamodzi ndi amene akukutumayo.Mawa tikukamatcha bcz ndiufulu wathu kutero, chamba eeti.Iwuzeni DPP POLICE kuti mawa itipeze.Tikathana nayo komko, tatopa nanu agalu inu.
Kuswa Kuswa basi. Mawi we meet on the street you shupiti looters, burners, stoners, breakers, mawa mukathela pompo. Sizotukwanazo. Sanity must prevail. enough is enough. Umuuze Timothy Ntumbo wakoyo.
That is not the way you solve the problem by using force.Under Malawian laws we citizens we have got rights to demonstrate.This is not a one party system era,so stop fooling yourselves by intimidated people.
DPP kuopa mantha….mzimu wakuba is hunting them….DPP do not waste your time just go home and read your bible and see what happened to Jacob ataba madalitso a Essau…..mtendere osaupeza
HRDC is a serious organisation that is why I was so annoyed to see this girl at their conference when they announced the three day demos. I mean this girl dressed in a yellow blouse or dress behaved in such a way that I think the whole thing was a joke to her.Worst of all the cameras were beaming on her, why? She was so irritating. Stupid!