DPP fails to foil demonstrations
Southern Region chapter of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has confessed to have deliberately interfered with the April 27 2018, demonstrations because the party believed Malawi Congress Party (MCP) was behind the demonstrations.
But the party’s efforts to frustrate protestors failed as demonstrations went ahead as planned in Blantyre and major cities in the country.
DPP Southern Region governor Charles Mchacha, who was spotted driving around in the city shadowing the demonstrators, defended his actions, saying he has the right to drive in the city or even follow the protesters.
He also said the party deliberately staged anti-demonstrations displays in an effort to discourage people from taking part in the protests because DPP believes they were political.
Mchacha confessed to have gone to the police and Blantyre City Council (BCC) to seek permission to demonstrate.
“I went to the police and the council [to seek permission] knowing well that there were demonstrations on Friday. This was not the civil society’s show, but MCP. The Blantyre demonstrations were led by Sidik Mia’s wife. That confirms it,” he said.
However, leader of the civil society organisation (CSOs) that led the demonstrations in Blantyre, Billy Mayaya said they were disturbed with the DPP attempts to disrupt the demonstrations.
He said the impunity of DPP government impedes on people’s right to peacefully demonstrate—a move that he said the civil society is contemplating exploring the legal means against the DPP.
“We are very disappointed with the DPP and we are going to continue challenging the DPP,” Mayaya said.
But Sidik Mia’s wife, Abida, in a telephone interview after the demonstrations retorted that it was DPP’s arrogance that forced her to join the protests.
“I had no intention to go to the streets but after DPP demonstrations on Thursday, I was upset. What they did demonstrating against demonstrations was uncalled for. I went to the streets to protest with the people. I was the voice of the voiceless and I would not allow people to face the DPP alone. This is a direct message to Mchacha, that I only fear God,” she said sounding upset.
Two of the country’s politicians Humphreys Mvula and Ziliro Chibambo, who arrived late at the Blantyre City Assembly when petition had just been delivered said the DPP has sunk so low to fight against Malawians.
“It is the repeat of 2011 narrative and DPP is not learning anything,” said Mvula.
Mzuzu shows Mutharika red!
Over five thousand people took to the streets today morning in Mzuzu, Lilongwe, Blantyre, Zomba, Karonga and Rumphi, chanting songs against President Peter Mutharika and his government for failing to address various socio-economic challenges affecting the country.
In Mzuzu City, Northern Region, the protests did not leave anyone behind—the old and the young, men and women, mostly dressed in red attire, carried placards displaying the many challenges that the Mutharika government is failing to address.
A walk of just two-kilometres from Katoto Primary School to civic offices took the ‘red sea’ almost two hours, as they made stopovers at each and every institution to make their concerns known.
For instance, at Mzuzu Clock Tower, the protesters sad down, and symbolically cried over government’s handling of the K4 billion payout to Members of Parliament.
In the cries, they accused Mutharika of trying to compensate legislators who had helped his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regime to reject the Electoral Reforms Bills last year in November.
“Mankhwala muvipatala tilije, vyose tikudalira madona! Mukwiba kale CDF, sono mwati mwibeso K4 billion, mwabankhungu imwe timalanenge namwe [We don’t have drugs in hospitals, and we mostly depend on donors to help us. You are already stealing Constituency Development Fund-CDF, and now you want to steal K4 billion, you thieves! We will deal with you!],” they chanted in Chitumbuka.
They also claimed that the DPP government has people who specialize in stealing public money.
After the Clock Tower, the Red Sea converged at the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) office in Mzuzu, where they demanded an explanation on why they experience persistent electricity blackouts.
Without being physically violent, the protesters used strong language, calling Escom bosses failures, who are only good at telling lies than doing their job.
They wondered why Escom bosses failed to tell the nation the truth that diesel-generators would not help the situation, but that they would only make people dig deeper into their pockets on bills. They then threatened to organise another protest specifically for Escom if the situation does not improve.
At Northern Region Police Headquarters, the protesters accused the police of killing Polytechnic Student Robert Chasowa, and that the current acting Inspector General, Rodney Jose, must not be confirmed.
They shouted: “A Police, munapha Chasowa, a police, ndinu akupha! Jose zikumukhudza izi! Lero musatiombelenso ngati 20 July, kapena salary yanu imakwana?
[The police killed Chasowa, you are murderers! Jose is involved in this we know. Today don’t even dare to shoot at us just like you did during the July 20 2011 demonstrations. Maybe you are happy with your meagre salaries?]”As the protesters shouted, some police officers could be seen smiling at the protesters.
The route for the demonstrations ended at civic offices, but some protesters insisted on going to State-funded Malawi Broadcasting Station (MBC) studios at Kaning’ina, asking authorities why they are always biased.
At civic offices, the morale was raised with a prayer by youth activist Wazamazama Katatu, who in his opening prayer, called Mutharika’s government a failure, and that it has rendered a deaf ear to people’s concerns.
“Dear God, we are gathered here because of this government which does not listen, we have so many problems, that it seems they don’t have any solutions to these challenges. Please help us God as we deliver this petition so that we are answered,” he prayed.
On his part, one of the organisers of the demonstrations, Charles Kajoloweka of the Youth and Society (YAS) said Mutharika was busy compensating ‘criminals’ instead of using that money to bail out the country from poverty.
He said civil society organisations (CSOs) will not relent, but soldier on with the voiceless in ensuring that the country is conducive for everybody.
“These people don’t listen, and if they don’t act on these issues, we will continue protesting until we are heard. Rodney Jose [Acting Commissioner of Police] must be fired within 10 days, so too ministers Kondwani Nankhumwa [Local Government] and Goodall Gondwe [Finance] for their roles in the K4 billion scandal.
“We are tired of this impunity, tired of this nonsense, tired of leaders who think they are above the citizenry. We put them in office, and we have the right to check what they are doing,” he said amid applause.
Mzuzu City Council chief executive officer MacLoud Kadammanja said he would deliver the petition as requested.
Arrests and vandalism
However, the peaceful protests took a turn after delivering the petition. Some protesters pulled down Mutharika billboards and DPP flags at Mzuzu Shoprite Roundabout, while chanting that the Mutharika responsible for the mess affecting Malawians.
Others wanted to vandalise some shops close to the main bus depot. It took police intervention to quell the situation.
Meanwhile, police in the city have arrested some individuals who wanted to take advantage of the protests.
Northern Region Police publicist Peter Kalaya said those arrested acted after the CSOs had delivered the petition.
“The demonstrations were very peaceful because of the coordination with CSOs. But there are some people who wanted to take advantage of this, and we have arrested them. These people acted after the demonstrations,” said Kalaya.
Protests in Rumphi—
In Rumphi, over 300 protesters marched peacefully from Bumba Teachers’ Development Centre to Rumphi District Council offices.
They however, made a stopover at the Boma where Rumphi Residents Association chairperson Moir Mkandawire addressed the demonstrators and hundreds of onlookers on issues they want government to address.
Then, they proceeded, while chanting songs against Mutharika and Ministers Gondwe and Nankhumwa, asking them to step down.
They also carried anti-government placards which read: APM Must Step Down, Peter Stop Nepotism, Mulamu Mwakula, Escom + Corruption= Blackouts, DPP Stop Raping DPP, among others.
Anglican priest, Father John Welano, who chaired the demonstrations’ organising committee in the district read the petition and presented it to Rumphi district commissioner (DC) representative Allan Chitete.
Whereas in Karonga, they marched from Karonga roundabout to the District Commission office.
Vice-chairperson for Northern Region Human Rights Defenders Forum Steve Simsokwe, asked Mutharika’s government to stop the transferring of the refugee camp from Dzaleka in Dowa to Katiri in Karonga.
Zomba protests APM’s leadership
Businesses came to a standstill in Zomba as many shops and offices were closed due to civil society organisations (CSO) nationwide protests.
The protests in the old capital started at exactly 8:30am from Zomba Community Centre Ground via Mponda Primary School to St. Charles Lwangwa Parish to Zomba District Council.
The march started on lower note with about two hundred participants which included Public Affairs Committee (Pac) spokesperson Father Peter Mulomole. The heavy presence of the heavily armed police, however, dwarfed the crowd.
The group marched for exactly an hour to the council where they presented their petition to the Zomba District Commissioner (DC) Emmanuel Bambe.
Reading the petition, coordinator for demonstration in the Eastern Regional Jimmy Aaron gave government 15 day to fire ministers Goodall Gondwe [Finance] and Kondwani Nankhomwa [Local Government and Rural Development] for their roles in the K4 billion scandal; and 15 days to arrest what they said “the big fish” in the abduction and killing of people with albinism.
In his speech after receiving the petition, Bambe assured the protestants that he will send the petition to the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) by closing of business today.
—Additional reporting by Joseph Mwale, John Chirwa, Pledge Jali and Jonathan Pansungwi Staff Reporters
