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Malawi’s demo organisers issue 6-point petition

Organisers of the January 17 2013 demonstrations have issued a six-point petition to be presented to the President, raising issues she is expected to respond to within 14 days.

The contents of the petition were emptied on Thursday at a press briefing held at the Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) offices in Limbe. The organisers said they are determined to stage demonstrations and have ruled out any prior discussions with President Joyce Banda.

Among other issues, the organisers said they want an immediate stop of the flotation of the kwacha, a freeze on foreign and local travel by the President and her Vice-President Khumbo Kachali and the Cabinet as well as the sale of the presidential jet.

Other demands include declaration of assets by the President and the Vice-President and the trimming of the Cabinet. They are also accusing government of covering up corruption.

Reading from the petition, spokesperson of the organising committee, Kingsley Mabalani, said the flotation of the kwacha should have been done only after certain conditions were achieved which include a flexible exchange rate system to defend against speculative attacks and also prevent a free fall in the value of domestic currency relative to foreign currency.

On the presidential and Cabinet travel, Mabalani said the current austerity measures in Malawi have created challenges to Malawians and the most affected are lowly paid workers, the unemployed and the rural poor.

He claimed that much as the President and her deputy cut their salaries by 30 percent, the reductions are negligible savings and unwarranted as compared to the huge costs incurred from their frequent travels.

Mabalani alleged that corruption is rampant and mostly by the Executive and other arms of the government, claiming that procurement details such as those of drugs and fertiliser are hidden from the public.

Harry Dafter Mikuwa, a member of the grouping, said if the President fails to respond to their demands, they will stage more demonstrations nationwide.

Government is on record to have pleaded for patience as it sorts out the mess created by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regime under the late president Bingu wa Mutharika.

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