Organisers of April the 27 nationwide demonstrations have denied accusations that they have abandoned demonstrators arrested after the march in Mzuzu City.
The social media has been awash with speculation that the organisers, Youth and Society (YAS), Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Centre for Development of People (Cedep) abandoned the demonstrators and the groups’ leaders have left the country.
abandoned them
However, YAS executive director Charles Kajoloweka said in an interview that their lawyer is already on the ground handling the situation for the arrested men.
“The accusations are simply baseless,” he said.
The youth activist further dispelled speculation that some civil society organisations (CSOs) in the organising group have pulled out.
“The organisers were only three CSOs; Cedep and CHRR,” said Kajoloweka.
The suspects are answering two counts of malicious damage and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
Meanwhile, police have released five of them for lack of evidence while Mzuzu Magistrate’s Court granted bail to the other 12 on Wednesday.
On April 27 2018, Malawians led by CSOs conducted countrywide demonstrations and delivered a 10-point petition to government on a number of issues. n
