Malawi police warn HRDC of ‘illegal’ mega demos: Force to be used against unlawful assembly
Malawi police have warned that it would use force to break up any street protests on Tuesday because no City authority has granted permission to Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) to conduct demonstrations in view of property damage and police lack of capacity to prevent the same.
HRDC has been organising protests to force Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah and her commissioners to resign.
The grouping planned what they call mega demonstrators on Tuesday in cities of Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu. In Lilongwe the protests could spills to Wednesday with a two-day vigil at Capital Hill – the seat of Malawi government.
Inspector General of Police Rodney Jose insisted on Monday that the law enforcers stock to their hunts stopping HRDC from proceeding with protests following violent and criminal acts during the demonstrations.
He said the HRDC’s court application challenging the police prohibition was not heard by the High Court as it has been differed to August 19 2019.
Police chief warned that with no permission to hold protests any demonstrations that may be held on Tuesday shall amount to unlawful assemblies.
Jose warned that the Malawi Police will use all the force “as is necessary to deal with such illegal demonstration.”
Riot police will be deployed on the streets of Blantyre, Mzuzu and Lilongwe on Wednesday on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, government is appealing
members of the general public not to be tempted to join an “illegal demonstration” on Tuesday.
The State says police will deal with anybody who wants to disturb the peace and security through illegal demonstrations.
Authorities point out that the protest would be illegal because HRDC had not got permission from authorities or the police whose role it is to give final approval.
The government has accused the rights group of working with opposition parties to create a lawless society.
HRDC argues that it is unconstitutional and a typical case of power for police to stop Malawians from exerting their constitutional right to peaceful and unarmed demonstrations.
But police said organisers should consider the responsibilities to the tights when the protests have been turning ugly with looting and violence.
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Ntambo must be out of his head. He says the police are mandated by the constitution to provide security and in their mandate to avoid violence they have stopped the demos yet the devil Ntambo goes ahead to conduct the demos. The courts who are issueing all these stopid rulings will soon be the target. Chilima and Chakwera have agreed to destroy Malawi.
We did away with unlawful assemble in 1993. Which Malawi are you living in sir? Good to retire if the job is frustrating. Go well, you missed a chance on dialog and especially working with HDRC and opposition
MWATIKWANA TATOPA NANU
And now the police is in trouble. Please do not underestimate the power of the people.
a jose gude gude pretending to be holyyet mmakamwera limodzi whisky.
pitani kumudzi mukaanizile bwino za mwana wathu ROBERT CHASOWA
This Mr Jose is a very big mistake, these officers they are near us , we do things together at the funeral, weddings and many things, what you are doing is to put them in danger, mamamama mamamama! You will do that in town but come to village post,, you will find them all gone, don’t be stupid. Because you are going you want to go with blood of people to your retirement? This is a big mistake, officers are very few than Malawians who will be on the street! MDF has been protecting Malawians from cadets, now you want… Read more »
The issue is not getting permission from city assemblies to demonstrate but it’s just to inform the assemblies of the demonstrations. Tikakumana kunsewu.
Prove yourselves if you are law abiding citizens or not. What do you lose from abiding by what the police have requested? What will you lose? And what will you gain by going against police? Don’t he stupid. These demos have been and will continue to be a lose lose situation. Nothing you are demanding is being met. Property is being damaged. You are losing your own personal valuable time. The country’s economy is being affected. You perhaps will be smoked at the demos, what for? You won’t be a hero and only your family will honestly mourn and miss… Read more »
The Police are attacking wrong people. Justice Jane Ansah is the source of all this. She should just honorably resign
The Greatest enemy of any government are the people. Jose knows this and he will try his best to protect his boss. As for the loss to the economy, you need not worry after all corruption of the politicians and their business friends costs the masses more than the looting and burning you are seeing
Iwe ndi Gwape kwambiri. Who said people are demonstrating against police? They are demonstrating against tippex government. If you have swallowed too much tippex in your mouth just shut up. The government is destroying the economy not citizens. Go to school and learn economy and political context
Apa ndezayambika…… this is the end of DPP and APM. TRUST ME…. ONCE IT’S OURT OF HAND MALAWI DEFENCE FORCE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THIS CHANCE FOR SO LONG. ONCE IT’S OUT OF HAND THE ARMY WILL TAKE OVER.
WE MUST THANK GOD CAUSE EVERY JOURNEY HAS ITS FINAL DESTINATION AND WE ARE NOW HEADING TO THE FINISH LINE.
ANY PROVOCATIVE AND UNNECESSARY ARRESTS WILL CAUSE FIRE WHICH WILL NOT BE EASY TO PUT OFF. WE THANK OUR LEADERS FOR CONTROLLING THE MASSES BUT NOW WILL BE A VEHICLE WITHOUT BRAKES.
END OF DPP AND APM……DOOMS DAY IS TODAY
It is the dpp that fund the looters, otherwise HRDC always conduct peaceful demos. Looters have been breaking shops in full view of police officers but no arrests done so far. Street kids reveals that Dausi has been giving them money to break the shops during demos in order to tarnish the image of HRDC. It is constitutional to conduct demos, it is the right of Malawians to protest if things are going wrong. All Malawians want is Jane Ansah to resign …. Period!