State House vigils blocked: Persons with albinism told its ‘restricted area’ for vigils
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.
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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DPP as usual missing the whole plot, useless people. Kunangotsala madeya ku DPP.
Just heard kuti akukapanga vigil ku Mzuzu state lodge? Kulowetsa ndale pa moyo wa anthu sizithandiza. Tiyeni tigwilane manja kuthetsa zoyipazi, End Albino killing
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.
Akuluakulu ku State House ndi smart bar yomwetserako mowa ana asuku osati ma demo iyayi.
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…….
Nde pita ukachite camp ku White house konkotu. Anakuuza ndani kuti State house ya ku Malawi ndi White House. Nkhumba iwe eti?
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
Nde mwati mdala akuthawa? Sheepongwetu kkk.
The City Council has no Mandate to block anyone from camping at State House
Its the law that forbids camping at state house (as a restricted area) not the City Council my brother. Chizungu umamva koma iweyo.
Hahaha! Chizungu chabvutatu, akanalemba chinyanja! Eish!
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…..
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?
the DPP has played a devide and rule game. they have splited apam and then weaken the other part of it to be easily controled by them