Malawi peaceful protests today: What you need to know

Some civil society organisations (CSOs) are holding  nationwide demonstrations this  Friday, April 27 in protest against what they  consider lack  of transparency and accountability in government and they will present a 10-point petition to the presidency.

Centre for the Development of People (Cedep) executive director Gift Trapence and Timothy Mtambo, chairperson of Human Rights Defenders Forum, said the organisers will set deadlines for the issues in the petition and return to the streets if they are not addressed.

The CSO’s have assured that they will conduct the protests in peaceful manner.

The grievances

Through the demonstrations, the CSOs want to push for the cancellation of disbursement of the K4 billion fund and that Cabinet ministers Goodall Gondwe (Finance, Economic Planning and Development) and Kondwani Nankhumwa (Local Government and Rural Development) resign or be fired for their roles in the scam.

The CSOs argue that the K4 billion allocation is illegal and not in the best interest of Malawians, hence the need to immediately cancel it.

Besides, the protests will also be held over continued blackouts and government’s K45.2 billion bailout to State produce trader Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) without seeking parliamentary approval in 2017.

On continued blackouts, the CSOs feel Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) and Electricity Generation Company of Malawi (Egenco) have failed to effectively supply electricity amid purchasing and hiring of generators.

Other CSOs demands include an appeal to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to investigate the K4 billion fund and its linkage to the rejection of Electoral Reforms Bills in Parliament last December; tabling and passing of the Electoral Reforms Bills, including 50+1 electoral system of electing the President in their original form as proposed by the Law Commission and reversal of the appointment of Rodney Jose as acting Inspector General (IG) of Police. The CSOs also demand action on killings of people with albinism.

The routes

In Blantyre, the CSOs said the marchers will converge at the Kamuzu Stadium upper ground from where they will march through Masauko Chipembere Highway to Blantyre District Commissioner (DC) offices in the Government Office Complex opposite Blantyre Sports Club through Glyn Jones Road and Victoria Avenue.

In Lilongwe, the march is set to start from Winners’ Chapel through Kamuzu Central Hospital Roundabout and City Centre Roundabout to the Office of the President and Cabinet at Capital Hill.

In Zomba, the protesters will start from Zomba Community ground to the DC’s office. The organisers said surrounding communities from Machinga and Mangochi are also expected to join the march in Zomba.

During similar anti-government demonstrations on July 20 2011, 20 unarmed civilians were killed by MPS officers. Organisers of tomorrow’s protests have accused government of moving to instil fear among citizens by making reference to the 2011 protests under former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika.

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lusiano banda
5 years ago

amalawi azanga tikuvutikinji mulungu anatipatsa mnyamata amene alindi masomphenya amarifunila dziko lamalawi koma ndi anthu ake zabwino sakhala ndimbali or atampatsa ndalama zochuluka bwanji koma iyeyo anama pachilunga saopa koma amanena zokoza Malawi ndizothekatu amalawi tose kunena chimene chikufunika kuti dziko liyende bwino posankha fundo zabwino osati kumasekerela atsoreli akuba omwe akuvutitsa athu ambiri chifukwa akuika ndalama zoyendetsela boma mmatumba mwawoo ine ndimasapota sir lusius banda ndi kusabisa may kwa amalawi ose ndipo amalawi nose munakakhala ngati ine tikanangoti change nthawi imodzi paribe angatsutse gulu akadachokapo okha

peter georgce
peter georgce
5 years ago

Malamulo akulora ziwonetsero Peter Mutharika , Goodall ,Kondwani Nakhumwa ndi akatangale kwambiri aDPP agulukunyinda awo apanga zawo motsogozedwa ndi ng’ona zawo.

dinky
dinky
5 years ago

ndiye dzulo munali yaviyavi inu a diphiphi zazii basi abakha inu mumatikwana kwambiri

dinky
dinky
5 years ago

tikuti ma demo omwewo basi ndiufulu wawo

#DzukaniAmalawi
#DzukaniAmalawi
5 years ago

Why would DPP allow Public Order Police unleash unnecessary force on its own people. Why would DPP mobilize its unruly members to cause hard to its own people. Why would DPP not listen to its own people when they’re expressing their anger. DPP should learn to engage with the very people it is governing to be a better party.

Paul
Paul
5 years ago

The organizers need to share us their tweeter handles and whatsapp number – keep us on the loop

joseph.zibophe
joseph.zibophe
5 years ago

ma demo omwewo basi asamajaire

Paul
Paul
5 years ago

The organizers need to share us their tweeter handles and whatsapp so that are were kept in the loop

Paul
Paul
5 years ago

The organizers need to share us their tweeter handles, and whatsapp to keep us the loop

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