Low patronage in LL demos
After creating a hype on social media, the Joint Civil Society Platform on Good Governance demonstrations in Lilongwe yesterday attracted only a handful of people.
The demonstrations, which took the popular route from Lilongwe Community Hall to Civic Offices in City Centre, were held in protest against what the grouping described as governance concerns.
The small group, mainly c o m p r i s i n g young participants, was seen carrying placards with various messages punctuated with loud music and dancing–in a typical freedom fighting style that characterised the road to the court-sanctioned Fresh Presidential Election on June 23 2020.
In their petition to government, the marchers, among others, cited the K6.2 billion plunder of Covid-19 funds and an alleged suspicious deal between State House and Crossroads Hotel as Tonse administration’s failure to tame corruption.
The petition, signed by the platform’s spokesperson P h i l l i p Kamangira, further accuses the Tonse administration of selective justice. The platform comprises civil society organisations namely Citizen Alliance, The Centre for Mindset Change and Civil Society Platform for Constructive Dialogue.
Reads the statement in part: “We say no to one party State as evident by the recruitment and training of some cadres in Mtakataka when we have a well-trained Malawi Defence Force and Malawi Police Service.”
They further asked government to allow newly-appointed Anti-Corruption Bureau director general Martha Chizuma to do her job without political interference.
In an interview, Minister of Information Gospel Kazako rubbished claims that the government is not committed to fighting corruption, saying the appointment of Chizuma is a strong indication that the leadership is walking the talk in the fight against corruption.
He said Chizuma is the best candidate for the job and this is all the more reason the new administration submitted her name for confirmation.
According to Kazako, there is no way Malawi can become a one party State as Malawian now realise and cherish the practice of democracy
