Group to counter protests
A group of civil society organisations under the banner Joint Civil Society Platform on Good Governance (JCSPG) says it will hold a series of nationwide mass demonstrations against organisers of anti-Jane Ansah demonstrations.
The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has been spearheading nationwide demonstrations aimed at forcing the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah to resign for allegedly mismanaging the May 21 Tripartite Elections.
In a statement issued yesterday, the group states that following the events during anti- Jane Ansah demonstrations, it has decided to mobilise the masses to the streets for what it terms Nationwide Marches for Peace.
“We have observed with grave concern that the nature and form of human rights advocacy embraced by the HRDC is destructive to the fabric of our national existence and cohesion. The inculcation of violence in the right to demonstrate is in sharp contrast to the framers of the Bill of Rights,” reads the statement in part.
University of Livingstonia based political analyst George Phiri has since described the move as a catalyst for further damage.
He said doing so will be contravening the laws of Malawi which do not grant any right to demonstrate against a legal demonstration like the one led by HRDC.
Said Phiri: “The law allows people to demonstrate on a national issue and that is what the anti-Jane Ansah demonstrations are for. So, any demonstration against such a demonstration will be illegal.”
JCSPG also accused HRDC of having reduced Malawi to a mess.
Reacting to the accusation, HRDC chairperson Timothy Mtambo said his group would not want to be dragged into sentiments that do not add value to the nation but would rather forge ahead with its plans.
“At this point, I don’t think it will be wise to engage in such arguments because they will only derail our plans. Our focus is attaining justice for Malawians and that is all,” he said. Currently, HRDC is planning another mass demonstration targeting airports and border posts in the same bid to get rid of Ansah who has since said she will never resign.
