Malawian multi-faith group PAC backs January anti-government demo
The Public Affairs Committee (Pac), multi-faith pressure group, has supported the move by Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) to hold national-wide demonstration in protest against President Joyce Banda’s administration failure to address current economic challenges.
Cama joined by Council for Non Governmental Organizations in Malawi (Congoma) are planning to hold demonstrations next year if the Peoples Party (PP) led government will not address the economic challenges the country is currently experiencing.
Speaking in an interview with Capital Radio, Pac’s Publicity Secretary, Reverend Maurice Munthali said despite not invited to assist in organizing the anticipated demonstration, the initiative is clearly manifestation that country’s citizens are able to exercise their rights.
“We could not object to that. If people want to demonstrate, let them as long as it’s not violent. They are entitled to do so. They are exercising their Constitutional rights. As Pac we have not been informed or invited but we welcome the development,” said Munthali.
However, Munthali warned people from using the demonstration to root and vandalize other people or government property just out of malice; instead he called for peaceful protest.
Munthali then blamed government for failing to come up with proper measures to caution the effects of devaluation and for not consulting widely on the proposal to borrow K35 billion from PT Bank to purchase fuel.
“Government has not consulted on fuel. People need answers and that is why they are interested to take it to the street. Much as I say, the devaluation was necessary, but the failure to come up with proper measures to caution the effects has in big way affected the country.
“There is a need to control Kwacha to certain degree, but we don’t need to be less responsible to the effects of Devaluation. By any means necessary there is an urgent need to come up with measures to caution devaluation failure to do will even render the Economic Recovery Plan useless,” he said.
He further accused government for failing to create proper communication channels on its projects and other activities towards economy recovery.
In May this year President Joyce Banda’s administration devalued the country’s currency apart from adopting Automatic Fuel Pricing Mechanism which has seen retail fuel prices rising on monthly basis.
Currently the cost of living is high with prices of good rising almost every day despite government initiating ERP to address the situation.
Meanwhile, there is fuel shortage in most part of the country with Banda assuring the nation the situation will normalize following a proposal to borrow K35 billion to purchase the much needed commodity.
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