Police blocks people with albinism demo from reaching State House
Malawi Police in Lilongwe have blocked Association of people with albinism (Apam) protests from getting anywhere near the Kamuzu Palace, official residence of the Head of State as the members demanded President Peter Mutharika to take action of their demands contained in the petition.
Lilongwe City Council had warned members of the association on Monday aagainst holding vigils at the palace citing Section 103 of the Police Act which restricts demonstrations or assembly within State residences.
However, on Wednesday Apam members with help by some civil society organisations (CSOs) led by Human Rights Defenders Coalition chairperson Timothy Mtambo, started the protest march from Lilongwe Community Centre Ground to an area 100 metres far from the State House where they are expected to hold vigils.
When Apam members marched near the place, police mounted a human wall blocking them from holding their vigils there.
Police blocked demonstrators marching to “force President Peter Mutharika to act against killings and abductions of persons with albinism” at a place near Big Garden, an events garden in Lilongwe, which is about 2 kilometres from State House.
The group of protesters were also blocked earlier close to the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) but CSOs participating in the march refused to bow down to demands to meet Chief Secretary in the office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) Lloyd Muhara instead of proceeding with the journey to State House.
Mutharika is not available at the palace in Lilongwe as he has travelled to Mzuzu in the Northern Region to undertake a number of engagements, including commissioning of the Mzimba Integrated Urban Water and Sanitation Project.
President Mutharika last week met about 50 persons with albinism mostly drawn from the Southern Region under the banner of Poor and Concerned People with Albinism (Pacpwa) – a breakaway grop of Apam.
The President responded to demands of PWAs and directed Treasury to immediately start disbursing the K3.1 billion budgeted for the 2018-2022 National Action Plan on the Killings and Abduction of PWAs in the country.
Malawi is experiencing a resurgence of attacks against persons with albinism, with two fatalities and three abductions since December 31 2018. Two of those who were abducted were later rescued by community members, one remains missing.
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Timothy Mtambo has always wanted to petition APM now he is using APAM as a pawn to achieve his dream. The president requested an audience wirhv APAM but they refused. Kondowe does not speak for all alninos as witnessed with the other grouping. Kondowe is a political hack
chisilu galu ndalayi amatawa chani Ku statehouse kupita Ku nzuzu , mesa akufuna mavoti nde azitawanso kunamizila kusegula water project I think he is dreaming
Tinve zitizo apapa?Za 100 Mita from state house ziii? Kapena 2km from state house? Aaah nanunso ma reporter ndinu ombwmbwana bwanji
Kodi mukamawakaniza anthuwa mutanthauza kuti akunama zoti akuphedwa? Mumamva bwanji mukamva kuti m’bale wathu wasowa amuba? Kapena inuyo simudzafa? Munthalika and your crew, please musadandaule anthu akakuchotsani pampando, if you don’t care about people with albinism to us it means you don’t care about Malawian, because Albino born in malawi is originally malawian. Voti ndi muntima kunsonkhano kwanu muzitionako koma tizavitera CHAKWERA.
Sometimes you wonder if people real know what they are looking for in life. Spam was asked to have an audience with the president but they refused because someone is misusing them or I should say abusing them. What do you expect to do a Virgil at the statehouse? Timothy Mtambo says he is a human rights efender but I can see how he is abusing these guys and esp Kondowe who they have turned into a pushing bag. The same group went to State Vice President, what was the point, we all know he vacated out off the office… Read more »
Mmmmhhhhh I feel very sory when I see such an act by police, imagine anthu akanangoti apolice amakhala ndi Golide pamutu azipha apolice mungamve bwanji? Peter Munthalika umaziwa ndithu kuyambila mwezi watha kuti anthuwa adzakhala akupanga vigil and yet you are deciding to schedule yourself the other way round mmhhhhh God will punish you ndi anzako onse amene mu kugwira ntchito zanuzo, ife athu ndi mapemphero kuti choonadi chizaziwike basi.
He was not there because he cares not about the life if albino.
What matters now is votes then after May the killings continue.
He knew the date and opted to go North. What a Leader.
How to lose an election
Bambo samasankha ana nyumba. Monga momwe Chauta amamva kulira kwa ana ake onse , nawo atsigoleri amayenera kutsanzira motero. Misonzi ya odandandaula imamveka mchere.
Very very sad indeed President osankha tokha lero akuti tisamuwandikire 100 Constitutional meters zomwe zinalembedwa a Police akutino 2 Km away.