Malawi Police refuses security for Mayaya’s Land Bill protest match

Malawi Police have refused to provide security for the protest match on Monday against the controversial Customary Land bill passed by parliament but organisers of the demonstrations say they will go ahead with or without the law enforcers.

Bill Mayaya, the organiser of the protest match said he was surprised that the police have decided to pull out their security.

“They have told us that they have other security matters to attend to but they have refused to tell us which security matters they might. However, we will go ahead with the match,” said Mayaya.

He said some sections of society feel the bill should contain a clause which should empower the government take away land snatched by coloniaists from locals especially in tea growing areas of Mulanje and Thyolo and give it back to the people.

He also alleged the current bill, as it stands, has diluted the powers of traditional leaders on land issues.

Malawi Law Society secretary general Khumbo Soko said the police have an obligation to provide security to protesters because that is their Constitutional right.

However he said he does not agree with Mayaya on the Customary Land bill.

He said the bill is a good piece of legislation as far as reforms in the admistration of land matters are concerned.

Soko said the Law Commission made wide consultative processes and engaged a lot of interest groups before the drafting of the bill.

Sharing is caring!