Law Society backs demonstrations

The Malawi Law Society (MLS) has come out in support of the planned demonstrations against government scheduled for today in Blantyre, saying the regime of People’s Party (PP) and President Joyce Banda is taking people for granted.

MLS’ support for the civil society-led demonstrations comes at a time when government has accused donors of funding the organisations to topple the Banda administration.

In a statement issued yesterday, MLS president Mandala Mambulasa said Malawians have a constitutional right to demonstrate because it has become the only language politicians understand.

Said Mambulasa: “This regime is ruling by lies and deception. They are insensitive to our plight. They continue to spend our money on things that we are not aware about without supporting documents. Maybe public demonstrations is the only language they will understand.”

The lawyers’ body lambasted government for providing inadequate funding to public services and spending money on campaign trails at the expense of poor Malawians.

Mambulasa said as MLS, they had advised, guided and engaged government without any visible change.

“[Government] must account to us the people where the proceeds for the jet went, they must show us the records for the same, they must explain why they are not funding public institutions including the ACB [Anti-Corruption Bureau] and our National Assembly must meet according to the dictates of the Constitution,” he said.

This will be the third time in Banda’s two-year rule that the country will witness mass demonstrations after the Black Monday which did not receive wide reception and the Consumers Association of Malawi-led demonstrations which took place in July last year.

Demonstration have previously tackled issues such as the effects of the devaluation of the kwacha, rising cost of living but the demonstrations slated for tomorrow hinge on governance, rule of law, demands for answers in the looting in government and whereabouts of the proceeds of the sale of the presidential jet.

A spokesperson of the demonstrations organisers, Lucky Mbewe, said the demonstrations would take place from Kanjedza Primary School ground and proceed to present a petition to the district commissioner at Blantyre Civic Centre.

In the petition, among other things, the petitioners are expressing their dissatisfaction with the President losing control of the government purse and presenting to the public a forensic audit lacking concrete evidence.