State House vigils blocked: Persons with albinism told its ‘restricted area’ for vigils

March 5, 2019 Wanga Gwede- Nyasa Times 33 Comments

Association of Persons with Albinism in Malawi (Apam) who were planning to be marching to Kamuzu Palace and hold vigils from March 6 to 8 2019, have been told by Lilongwe City Council (LCC) that they have no permission to  proceed instead they can present their petition to President Mutharika at the Civic Offices.

President Peter Mutharika meeting the splinter group last week

The city council communicated this stand  on Monday during a meeting in Lilongwe to discuss the route and venue for the vigils.

Apam was told that Section 103 of the Police Act (2010) provides restrictions on demonstrations or assemblies within State House premises.

Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) chairperson Timothy Mtambo, who led a team of seven people from Apam and other civil society organisations (CSOs) to the meeting, said they received a letter signed by city council chief executive officer Gensher M’bwabwa dated February 28 advising them  about the decision not to hold vigils at State House.

The city council granted Apam permission to hold “peaceful march and vigil” on conditions  that they go to Civic Offices  to deliver their petition and not head to Kamuzu Palace.

However, the meeting ended ind deadlock as Apam could not accept the order to block them from heading to Kamuzu Palace.

Meanwhile, President Mutharika will not be in Lilongwe when Apam will be holding the vigils as instead be in the Northern Region, where he is expected to carry out a number of tasks, starting on Tuesday, March 5 2019 when he will commission the Mzimba Integrated Urban Water and Sanitation Project.

Kalirani old a local radio  that Mutharika invited Apam  officials to a round table discussion few days ago but the association turned down the invitation insisting they will deliver the petition to the President in person in the process of holding a vigil at State House.

Just last week, Mutharika held talks with a parallel group calling itself Poor and Concerned People with Albinism (PACPWA) at the State House who  delivered almost similar grievances Apam is advancing.

Among other issues, Aoam wants government to provide enough funding towards the National Action Plan to end the escallating killing and abduction of people with albinism.

Mutharika ordered Treasury for an immediate release of the required K3.1 Billion after meeting PACPWA officials.

Since November 2014, the number of reported crimes against people with albinism in Malawi has risen to 152 cases, including 25 murders and more than 10 people missing, according to Apam.

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33 replies on “State House vigils blocked: Persons with albinism told its ‘restricted area’ for vigils”

  2. Just heard kuti akukapanga vigil ku Mzuzu state lodge? Kulowetsa ndale pa moyo wa anthu sizithandiza. Tiyeni tigwilane manja kuthetsa zoyipazi, End Albino killing

  3. Musatinyase inu…You were invited for which others came and you’re just adamant because of Mtambo and Trapenzi…What else do you want makape inu.

  4. Akuluakulu ku State House ndi smart bar yomwetserako mowa ana asuku osati ma demo iyayi.

  5. Za chamba basi…restricted area my foot!..thats the peoples’ house….ku white House. People go there to protest ….we don’t hear this nonsense..restricted area…….

    1. Nde pita ukachite camp ku White house konkotu. Anakuuza ndani kuti State house ya ku Malawi ndi White House. Nkhumba iwe eti?

  6. Just to say whatever we do not do or do unto these people (albinos) That we do unto God. Whatever positions we have lets us know the pain that others are having to go through just because they are born albinos or their sons, daughters and uncles are.
    Politicians feel what these people are feeling and any monkey tricks we do in this regards we are provoking the wrath of God

    1. Its the law that forbids camping at state house (as a restricted area) not the City Council my brother. Chizungu umamva koma iweyo.

  9. I just want to warn mr Kalirani (APM spokesperson) that he should choose words when speaking to the nation chifukwa pali mawa! mawa libwera basi…..

    1. Aaaah za chamba basi, demo apanga ndi a APAM and iwowo ndi amene akudziwa all the details, so Kairani is right. Nanga akadziwe ndi ena zinthu zokonza ena. Fodya eti?

    1. Brother understand the world albinos are living in. A fearful world where their movements are restricted by their fellow human beings who have become their hunters. Where they have no one to trust.
      If the president would just talk to them even invite them and do their vigil in the state house what would be wrong with that? They would live two nights of peaceful nights with confidence and assurance of safety that they would at least not be hunted for the two nights.
      Lets put ourselves in their shoes where they know that they are a very smal populations and are even specifically known where they live. How bad can thing be beyond this, I feel for them really

  15. I like our laws ndipo zikuwoneka ngati anthu ambiri sakuwadziwabe kuphatikiza a APAM and ma CSOs. The strongest vigil would better be done at the grave yard due to the killings of Albinos than statehouse. I hope the petition of APAM is not the same with what their intelligent brothers who knew the law that forbids vigils at statehouse delivered to APM directly.

  16. Mutumbuka wopusaMutambo misleading the splinter group of people living with albinism in your incessant right against your own country. You should be embarrassed now.

    1. Stop being a nepotist, zikukhuzana bwanji ndi mtumbuka. Why is your party president(APM) in the north? is he not interested in votes from the same people you are hating?

  17. Peter akuthawa!!! Heheheh mphwanga uthawa mpakana litiro. Apam should go and do the vigil mpakana tsiku lomwe atamalidze ntchito zake ku mpoto: akakupedzani konko afana. Go konko ifeyo tidzikubweretserani zakudya konko

    1. You actually don’t want APM to be present – if you need government action talk to the Government not the individuals. weldone Mr M”bwabwa

  19. Apatu nde amzathu achi alubino mwaluzatu, first they are brutally killing you, destroy the evidence by killing Lule, they further divide you between those from the south and the rest and then akukana kukapanga vigil ku state house. Another reason to boot this regime out.

  20. Ndiye muziti Chakwera sapereka uphungu matsoks basi. He told you in press statement that why did you not fund National Action Plan you wanted all albinos be killed and fun them. Chakwera told you that there are gudgets that can be used for protection of albinos such as alarms, protected houses etc and Dausi ndi umbuli wake akuti nzotheka zimenezo mmhuuu nduna imeneyo. Zonsezi zikutha pa 21 May pano munya muona anthu ozunza inu. Sitikukufunanisoni mdziko muno.

    1. IF APAM can raise K10.0 million for vigils, they can raise money to protect themselves and good housing.

      Whoever is sponsoring APAM is wicked and is advancing his personal agendas. Its also true what Dausi said- albinos are sold by their own families- proof is there.

      Listen my friends and stop being stupid:- you are being used. Open your eyes : why feed you now when these people were there when you were starving?

      2. Inu Arafat Hamdan ndi Chakwera are evil. they represent darkness. Nanji Mtambo ndi nzake wa mathanyula Trapence. Lero aputsitsa Mtumbuka Kondowe mzawo. Zautsiru. Ndale kusadzidziwa anzawo akukamba za chitukkuko

      3. Malawi vuto ndi dyera, we politicize everything, this issue is very complicated, sizoti munthu mmodzi angathetse payenkha, achibale ndi omwe akumagulitsa abale awonso. Kuti wakupha aphedwe the same bungwes abweranso ndi mbwelera zawozo ati human right, wakupha asaphedwe.

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