Malawi Police approves demo: Activists pledge to hold peaceful protests Tuesday

In ensuring political freedom and civil liberties, Malawi Police Service have approved a request by Civil Society Organisations to hold peaceful demonstrations in Lilongwe on Tuesday October 27 to demand better health service delivery from government.

Billy Mayaya, the architect of the demonstrations, has confirmed that letters notifying the authorities of the planned demonstrations have been responded with an affirmative approval by Lilongwe police and the district commissioner’s office.

“We have got police permission to hold demo,” Mayaya told Nyasa Times on Monday.

“We will go ahead to hold peaceful demonstrations on Tuesday October 27, 2015,” said Mayaya.

He says the demonstrations will start from Parliament building roundabout to Capital Hotel roundabout then turn right at the right about to Civic offices where minister of Health Peter Kumpalume will receive a petition..

“We will be joined by nurses and other health workers,” Mayaya said.

Government recently withdrew letters of appointments to over 300 health workers, saying the government had no money to pay them.

However, this drew severe criticism from the civil society organisations who accused the government of taking to the UN, New York a larger than life entourage of 106.

But Minister of Health, Peter Kumpalume has since assured that Capital Hill will employ the medical practitioners.