Malawi opposition leader Chakwera joins anti-govt demos in Lilongwe

Leader of opposition Lazarus Chakwera has boosted the morale of peacefui demonstrators when he joined them in the protest match just soon after the Kamuzu Central Hospital. Donning a black shirt, Chakwera walked near the main placard and mixed freely with the other protesters.

Chakwera join protestors in Lilongwe
Harry Mkandawire of MCP joins demos in Mzuzu

Leader of opposition Lazarus Chakwera  on Friday joined the peaceful demonstrators  in the streets of the Capital Lilongwe marching to petition President Peter Mutharika and his administration on governance shortcoming.

Civil society organisations (CSOs) organied nationwide protests and Chakwera , who is also president of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and endorsed the demos,   joined them in the protest match just soon after the Kamuzu Central Hospital.

Donning a black shirt, Chakwera walked near the main placard and mixed freely with the other protesters of   the disbursement of the K4 billion to legislators and other issues.

Initially, the MCP leader was part of the agreement by members of Parliament (MPs) to allocate the said amount to all the 193 MPs instead of the initial 80, before making a U-turn later.

On Thursday the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)Dsupporters, clad in their party regalia of blue T-shirts, put business to a standstill in Blantyre as they blocked main roads in the city on their way to Limbe.

The scenes were reminiscent of events on the eve of the July 20 2011 nationwide anti-government protests against the administration of Bingu wa Mutharika when panga-wielding DPP cadets paraded in Blantyre central business district (CBD), warning people not to take to the streets.

While they were not seen with pangas yesterday, the DPP youth inconvenienced motorists and pedestrians alike along the way as they chanted: “Sitilora, ma demo amenewa! Sitilora, ma demo amenewa! [We won’t allow the demonstrations to take place].”

The CSOs want Cabinet ministers Goodal Gondwe (Finance, Economic Planning and Development) and Kondwani Nankhumwa (Local Government and Rural Development), to voluntarily step down or the President should fire them for their roles in the K4 billion financial transaction and an annulment of the entire arrangement. The two ministers have insisted they did nothing wrong.

They also protested against other issues such as deterioration of basic services like blackouts, high rate of unemployment and the general decay of the state of governance.

The demonstrations were also being be held in Karonga, Mzuzu, Lilongwe, Blantyre and Zomba.

In Mzuzu, MCP executive member and lawmaker Harry Mkandawire was also spotted on the front line.

Among the CSOs that organised the demos and signed the petition are Human Rights Defenders Forum (HRDF), Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR), Cedep, Youth and Society (YAS), Public Affairs Committee (PAC), Citizens Forum for the Defense of Good Governance and Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR).

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santana
santana
5 years ago

Who has resigned after all that sweat? Simunati kuguba.

Phwisa
Phwisa
5 years ago

I wonder does Chakwera have legal advisors . He is a man of blunders

Angela masuku
Angela masuku
5 years ago

Clever move chakwera .not wearing party colours , he has the right to demo against what we are demonstrating against because he is also on the receiving end, its only DPP members who r giving us mavuto amend tikuwaona mmalawiwa so they can’t demo bcoz zinthu zilibwino zedi kwa iwowo. Please avoid colours and party songs as they dilute and divide the messages. However parties r flee to organise they’re own demos. DPP , idea to exercise their right to demo was good however, noone has the right to demonstrate against anybody’s right to demonstrate. I know u hold meetings… Read more »

Old Pipo Party
Old Pipo Party
5 years ago

Chakwera boma 2019. Pamene Ena amadyerera mumanyumba mwawo Inu bwana munali nafe. Zikomo.

Napoleon
Napoleon
5 years ago

Is Chakwera and Mkandawire serious politicians. Why going on demo when they approved the sharing of the money.? It would have been wise to refuse it and then go to demo but this shows that these are not serious politicians. Mufuna mavoti okupangirani chisoni. Ask late Gwanda, May his soul rest in peace. He was poised to win and circulations going around “ muvale gwanda posits kukavota” but what happened, oh, wait and see what will happen in 2019will silence your ignoramus.

DPP A & DPP B
DPP A & DPP B
5 years ago
Reply to  Napoleon

Zikupwetekani simunati. Chakwera is winning the game. This is new world. Nanga agogo angayende demo aja?

James
James
5 years ago

In Malawi the level of understanding issues is very low due to uninformed minds and it will take centuries to develop as thieves are worshipped as heroes. Somebody tries to pump some sense in the sick minds and he is branded with all sorts of insults. A people destined to an abyss of hell. That’s why she has failed economically than neighbouring countries like Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania etc.

A cursed people who don’t know what they want.

winston msowoya
winston msowoya
5 years ago

If Chakwera cares about the Malawian people’s safety,he could have organised demonstrations against the MCP first President Mphonongo Banda what he did to Malawians during his barbarous rule of 32 years.Of course,Chakwera the former son of God new what Banda did to Malawians when he was catapulted into power after Banda’s demise.That was the right time to condemn the rogue,as soon as he stepped onto power,his first ambition was to make money,he forgot completely that Banda had his hands smeared with the blood of innocent Malawians.The issues for this bunkum demonstrations,are never be implemented for instance,defence of good governance,centre for… Read more »

Mpolokwa
Mpolokwa
5 years ago

Very surprising that there are other Malawians Who sympathise with DPP and APM. They cannot see all the evils that this government is doing. They do not know their right to keep government in check. Very shameful…. Chakwera is the man of integrity. The only game changer we have in Malawi politics.

Njole
Njole
5 years ago
Reply to  Mpolokwa

A man of integrity does not say one thing here in Parliament and don’t remember to keep his word demonstrate against what he approved .SHAME+++

TEACHER
5 years ago

WHY CAN’T PETER JUST RESIGN FOR THE SAKE OF HIS OWN RESPECT DIGNITY AND LEGACY ??

ANSWER # ALIBE POLOBOLEMU
BUSY WITH GETU DOING HONEY MOON IN ABROAD ON OUR TAXES MONEY !

JESUS IS LORD !!

chikoti
chikoti
5 years ago

An opposition leader at a demo of CSOs? Hmmmm koma abale..nsanje, dyera ndi njiru nzovutadi..dziko la Malawi anthu akulifuna atalamulira kuti abe …maso amatha kumaoneka nhati akuona koma mmmm nkhungu…

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