Malawians remember July 20 massacre victims
Government has remained muted on Friday as Malawians privately remembered 20 people massacred by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regime seven years ago for protesting against the increasingly arrogance, intolerance and dictatorial tendencies of former president Bingu wa Mutharika.
On social media platforms, people are exchanging their experiences on this day seven years ago when the police were ordered to shoot and kill peaceful protesters, the mass demonstrations that nearly brought the Bingu administration to its knees.
People blame the government for its heavy handedness in dealing with the wave of massive protests as the late president started ruling the country with an iron fist.
But the open commemorations of the day are being held in Mzuzu at Zorozoro cemetary where eight of the 10 killed during the protests in Mzuzu were buried.
The other two protesters were buried in Karonga.
The spokesperson for the families affected by the death of the protesters, Martha Mbezuma said the families raised K50, 000 out of the projected K200, 000 to hold the commemoration events because organisations which helped the families hold the prayers chickened out.
She gave an example of Church and Society which she said did not honour its pledge neither did its officials attend the commemoration prayers.
But Church and Society executive director Moses Mkandawire said the organization had other equally pressing matters to attend to.
The prayers were led by Reverend Mercy Chilongoti of the CCAP.
Executive director of Youth and Society Charles Kajoloweka said what happened on July 20 should be an inspiration to Malawians that they have a right to rise up and fight an oppressive regime.
“This is a day of inspiration. Those who died were fighting a regime which failed to live up to its promises,” he said.
He told the police to be professional, saying the merciless gunning down of unarmed protesters was uncalled for.
Police spokesperson, James Kadadzera said people should follow proper procedures when protesting to avoid the repeat of the July 20 2011 massacres.
However, it has transpired that over 50 people who went to government to seek compensation have not received their money and their cases have been closed because the three year case window has elapsed according to the law.
Peter Chisi, director of civil and human rights at the Malawi Human Rights Commission said the laws need to be repealed, saying people should still get compensation regardless of the time frame of when the incident occurred.
“These laws need to be repealed. You cannot put a time frame on human rights cases, this does not happen elsewhere,” he said.
But George Kadzipatike, a lawyer who represented some of the victims said all his clients received their compensation.
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Who chose this Kadadzera to be the Police Spokesperson?I think he does not qualify to be on that post.
Celebrating death of thugs? mambwenumbwenu inu!! Ena anafa atanyamula matress, bales of sugar stolen from Chipiku. Wina had a knife in his pocket. Wina had a catapult
The slaughter of our people in the Nyika cannot be forgotten. We will fight for the total liberation of Nyika to the last breath of our lives. The DPP government is a terrorist government, and it is not different from the Intehangwe Hutu dominated regime that slaughtered more than a million Tutsis. The Mutharika brothers will burn in HELL. They are tribalistic, rigionalistic, and all the “isms” of the world. People were afraid to commemorate the fallen daughters and sons of Nyika as now we live under a police state. You can’t drive the Northern region without roadblocks. These roadblocks… Read more »
Thugs were killed, big up police.
May God forgive you and May Their Soul Rest In Peace Also
When will similar commemoration held for the three cabinet ministers and a member of parliament that were massacred by the murderous MCP?
Typical of DPP THUGS, they are denialists.
While none of those involved in the infamous killing of 3 cabinets is still alive today in MCP we have murderers of the July 20 in DPP still calling shots. Most have been handsomely rewarded by this DPP-led government for a ‘job well-done’
Similarly DPP amanamiza anthu kuti K37 billion cashgate ya JB ndi yokhayo pomwe K577 billion mpana pano akulephera kuyankha, nthano thooo! Zina ndi izi K146 million Policegate calling government stolen money ‘DONATION’..
SHAME!!!
Let Dausi and Mtaba give us the dates of their death because they performed the killing and then they will be commemorated. Dausi does not deny it if you ask him and is ready to tell you more.
All those who killed the 3 Ministers are in DPP,so you better ask them when are we going to commemorate
These are real martyrs murdered by the evil DPP regime, not John Chilembwe of 100 years ago who was fighting W. Livingstone not for the betterment of Malawi.
This was a sad day for post-multiparty Malawi. 20 people were massacred by the state police whose Commander-in- Chief was Bingu Wa Mutharika. God was so displeased with him that he made sure that with out any warning he should also follow.
Mr Kadadzera if this is indeed what was your response then I must say it is sad and mulibe umunthu. These were lives lost protesting for the betterment of the nation, the very same nation within which you and I are citizens, and they were not criminals. Yes people have to follow proper procedures when conducting demonstrations, FACT; but that does NOT and will NEVER accord the police service disproportionate powers to shoot and kill citizens who are being oppressed and merely exercizing their freedom of assembly and expression in such difficult times or at any time. NEVER! Do not… Read more »
The police should have killed more of those thugs. They were a nuisance to society. No sane person can remember those thieves of 20 July.
That is what is killing our Country with stupid people and brainless who does not know their rights.
Mudzafa imfa yowawa