Concerned citizens demand Chakwera, others to resign

Human Rights Ambassadors (HRA) on Tuesday staged a protest in Blantyre against rising cost of living and demanded that President Lazarus Chakwera and other public officers should resign for not fulfilling campaign promises.

Besides Chakwera, the protesters also want Vice-President Saulos Chilima, Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara, Leader of Opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa, Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director Martha Chizuma to resign for failing to defend the country’s Constitution.

Reads the petition in part: “All the officers mentioned above have failed Malawians. Therefore, all must go…”

In their petition co-signed by HRA chairperson Charles Longwe, spokesperson Stevie Chimwaza and head of operations Richard Mphepo delivered to Blantyre City Council (BCC) they said Malawians are suffering due to the rising cost of living which they described as “unbearable”.

They said some of the recent decisions government has made such as fuel pump price increase and the introduction of value-added tax (VAT) on transaction fees in banks have worsened the cost of living of most Malawians.

HRA said Chakwera has failed to fulfil his electoral campaign promise on universal fertiliser subsidy, creation of one million jobs, establishment of mega farms, duty-free week and servant leadership.

In an interview after delivering the petition, Mphepo said the grouping will give Chakwera seven days to respond to their concerns.

But tempers flared during the petition presentation as some leaders of the grouping noticed that BCC chief executive officer Alfred Chanza and Blantyre City Mayor Wild Ndipo were not present to receive the petition.

The council delegated its head of security Vincent Banda to do the honour.

Before delivering the petition, the protesters marched from Blantyre Old Town Hall to Blantyre City Council Civic Centre through Masauko Chipembere Highway. Armed police officers provided security.

Political scientists Nandin Patel and Mustafa Hussein on Tuesday said the protest is an indication that some sections of Malawians are not happy with the economic situation.

Said Patel: “I don’t know who they [HRA) are, but their concerns are genuine and nobody can run away from the fact that prices of goods and services have gone up so much.

“Life is getting harder by the day and its worrying.

“If the concerns are not addressed and quick measures are not taken, then frustrations will likely grow.”

On his part, Hussein, who teaches in the Department of Political and Administrative Studies in the University of Malawi, said the protest means some Malawians have found that the way government is running the economy is unsatisfactory.

He said: “Definitely if things get worse, we should expect more of such protests, but if things improve, maybe there will be less dissatisfaction.”

The pair of Chakwera and Chilima ascended to power following their triumph in the court-sanctioned Fresh Presidential Election held on June 23 2020.