Malawi police cancel holidays for officers, tells them to be alert

Malawi police headquarters in Lilongwe has directed all police officers to suspend their holidays and off days and be alert at all their duty stations.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (operations) Duncan Mwapasa who led a team of senior police officers to a meeting with CSO leaders to find ways of making the protests peacef

In a memo, the police head-quarters tell commanding officers to ensure visibility of law enforcers everywhere.

The police has not said why there is such an order but a detective officer – name shielded – said this is in the wake of the April 27 2018 demonstrations civil society organisations (CSOs) are planning to hold peacefully.

On Thursday , the police Deputy Inspector General (operations) Duncan Mwapasa  led a team of senior police officers to a meeting with CSO leaders to find ways of making the protests peaceful.

National police spokesperson James Kadadzera said the cancellation of holiday for the cops was a normal practice in the police, saying there is nothing unusual.

Last time such a directive was issued was in July 2011 during the massive protests than nearly brought down the Bingu wa Mutharika government.

CSOs have organized the demonstrations, which the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) and others are supporting, to
present their grievances to the government on various problems, including the decision by the government to splash out K27.8 million to each member of parliament, to force President Peter Mutharika rescind the appointment of Rodney Jose as new Inspector General of police and express concern over the ever increasing cost of life.

Meanwhile, some chiefs have told Malawians not to participate in the protests, saying the CSOs have no convincing reasons to take up to the streets.

Chiefs Lundu, Kawinga, Ngolongoliwa and others said this when they held a news conference in Blantyre on Thursday.

They claimed the CSOs have paid the protests K3, 000 each to participate in the demonstrations but one of the organisers of the protests Gift Trapence wondered why the CSOs should pay the demonstrators when the protesters are in persistent darkness due to power blackouts, one of the reasons for the protests.

The Muslims Association of Malawi and the Qudria Muslims Association of Malawi have also told their members not to participate in the protest matches.

Saiti Jambo of the Qudria Muslim Association of Malawi said the CSOs should give dialogue a chance.

The CSOs are demanding cancellation of disbursement of K4 billion fund for parliamentarians and the resignation of Cabinet ministers Goodall Gondwe (Finance, Economic Planning and Development) and Kondwani Nankhumwa (Local Government and Rural Development).

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.

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Peter K Mvalo
Peter K Mvalo
5 years ago

Police should not temper with innocent people, protests its also for their benefits,in blackouts and their relatives in hospitals, govt should awake up, sort out this issue fast as possible…

MAGUIRE
MAGUIRE
5 years ago

ONE VOICE !

ONE PEOPLE !!

ONE NATION !

ingwazi
ingwazi
5 years ago

Has kachama also cut his holiday? Let him come in.
Thiese Demos have caused shivers.
Looters are shitting themselves with fear
Oh ! How I would love to see this day when streets will be filled with people young & old maybe singing or chanting
Lord bring back that happiness

Agenda Setting Theory
Agenda Setting Theory
5 years ago

Ask these idiots to bring evidence that people have been paid. and it it is true those who have done it should be brought to book

Gulewamkulu
Gulewamkulu
5 years ago

lomwe woyeee! Ngolongoliwa Woyeee! Mxieee!

Comrade
Comrade
5 years ago

Police men and women should be on the alert all the time, everyday! 24/7, not only when demonstrations are taking place” is “being alert ” a code word to kill innocent people????

#DzukaniAmalawi
#DzukaniAmalawi
5 years ago

Protests and riots in one of the provinces in South Africa forced its president to cut short his UK visit to calm the situation down. People of the province are just tired of lack of service delivery and rampant corruption. The situation has escalated out of control; they’re demanding that the provincial leader be fired. This is an indication that generally people of Africa have just had enough of corrupt political leaders with narrow interests. Politicians here at home should take this as a lesson. Malawians are tired of lack of service delivery and rampant corruption and maybe the demo… Read more »

chikoti
chikoti
5 years ago

Eeeiiisshhh koma journo ya pa Malawi heee “police cacels holidays…bla bla” nkhani kukathera za ma demo.kkkkkkkk.tiyeni nazo..zili bwino basi….

From Capital Hill
From Capital Hill
5 years ago

These social misfits ( kawinga, Lundu and Ngongoliwa) masquerading as chiefs should simply give us a break. Who listens to them in the first place. They are simply being silly

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