Mayaya says protests cancelled, claims Malawi police pressured

Rights activist Billy Mayaya has cancelled the much publicised March 10 maize scarcity peaceful protests, saying police have forced the organisers of the demos to cancel it.

Mayaya  planned endless vigil against President Peter Mutharika from allegedly being insensitive to maize shortage and economic problems

In an interview with Nyasa Times on Wednesday, Mayaya parried away reports that the cancellation has to do with availability of maize stocks in Admarc depots.

“I have moved up and down from Nsanje to Chitipa, the situation remains the same, long queus at Admarc depots, women still spend day and nights at Admarc depots,” Mayaya said.

National Right to Good Network chairperson said to the contrary, the police called the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to tell them to cancel it.

“They cited police Act powers that allows them to cancel demos and we have just obliged,” he said.

Maize remains scarce and extremely expensive as the government  is battling to bring back inflation, stabilise the kwacha against the dollar and bring down high interest rates in order to tame the turbulent economy which has pushed the cost of living beyond the reach of most ordinary Malawians.

Government says Malawians should be calm as the situation will be brought under control.

In February this year, Mzuzu Youth Association (MYA) petitioned President to address the maize shortage and economic problems facing teh country. They also gave Mutharika a seven do ultimatum to respond in writing.

But the presidential advisor on non governmental organisations and CSOs Mavuto Bamusi,  said the CSOs were not being realistic to expect the president to respond to their demands in writing;

He said the president was already looking into hunger situation and that state produce trader Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation  (ADMARC) was stocking maize, the staple grain in its depots nationwide.

Malawians continue to face  severe hardships, with some citizens having to sleep in long queues in order to buy maize from sAdmarc.

Opposition parties recently shared their opinions on the issue, giving President Mutharika an ultimatum to improve the ailing economy within 90 days or hand in his resignation.

Pressure seems to be mounting daily against Mutharika, with citizens calling for a speedy remedy to the country’s economic ills.