Cide supports Jan 17 demos
Clergy Initiative for Integral Development has (Cide) says it supports Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) call on Malawians to demonstrate against the high cost of living on January 17.
In an interview on Thursday, Cide chairperson Fr. Michael Mtambo who is also an Anglican priest of the Upper Shire Diocese, said Malawians who feel the pinch of the economic woes have the right to express their concerns by joining the January 17 demonstrations.
“The demos are not against the President, but people expressing pain as they are failing to manage life due to high cost of living. There are only few who are celebrating life every day. People in the villages who are not working cannot afford a bag of fertiliser at about K15 000 (about $44). Maize is not available at Admarc depots and where it is available, it is expensive,” said Fr. Mtambo who was flanked by his secretary general Pastor Richard Padambo.
Fr. Mtambo said it was unfortunate that some groups have emerged with the message of stopping the demos. He said such groups are infringing on people’s right to conduct a peaceful demonstration.
The Forum for Peace and Reconciliation and Rastafarians have spoken against the demos.
Cide is a group of inter-religious clergy who also in 2010 spoke against the late president Bingu wa Mutharika for ill-treating the then vice-president Joyce Banda who is now the President.
