13 people arrested for protesting in Mzuzu

Police in Mzuzu today have arrested 13 youth activists who planned to stage a vigil against President Peter Mutharika.

National Right to Food Network chairperson Billy Mayaya said there was no justification for arresting the protesters and called for their immediate release. He said failure to release them will see CSOs taking action.

The 13, under Mzuzu Youth Association (MYA), were arrested on

allegations that they did not have consent from authorities to hold the vigil at Mzuzu Civic Office. The vigil was meant to force

president Mutharika to address hunger situation, economic problems and governance issues affecting the country.

Before the protestors could hold the vigil, police intercepted them at Katoto Secondary football ground where they had assembled to march to the Civic offices.

According to Northern Region Police spokesperson Maurice Chapola the protestors were arrested for unlawful assembly, contrary to Section 71 of the penal code.

He said the arrest came after MYA chairperson Mervin Nxumayo wrote police and Mzuzu City Council (MCC) calling off the vigil and stating that anyone who goes ahead to hold the vigil will be doing so in their personal capacity. However, Nxumayo’s letter was not dated.

“As police we recognize MYA as one; hence in view of that we have arrested those who were about to march to the MCC for unlawful assembly and they will appear before court soon,” said Chapola.

Speaking in an interview at Mzuzu Police Station, the vigil organizing committee secretary Andrew Longwe claimed that at the time of arrest he and others were not aware that Nxumayo had written the police cancelling the vigil.

“We went ahead with our plans to hold the vigil because we were not aware that Nxumayo had written the police and MCC cancelling the same,” said Longwe.

The police also impounded a coffin draped in Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) cloth, red overalls and a dog that the protesters were to use at the vigil to signify that the country “has gone to the dogs” while the coffin is said to symbolised demise of the economy.

Reacting to the arrests,  Nxumayo said the arrested protestors refused to be part of the meeting MYA held with MCC chief executive officer McCloud Kadam’manja, DPP regional governor (north) Ken Sanga, presidential advisor on National Unity and Parliamentary Affairs Symon Vuwa Kaunda, National Intelligence Bureau(NIB) officials and Admarc officials to cancel vigil.

He said the officials assured them of maize availability in Admarc markets and were convinced with the 1400 tons of maize at the Northern Region Admarc warehouse.

Nxumayo also trashed allegations that they had been bribed by

government to call off demos. There are allegations that presidential advisor on Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) offered money to Longwe but after he refused other MYA members sneaked to be greased.