Mzuzu turns ugly after peaceful protests

It was billed to be the most peaceful protest ever in recent times! For three hours, demonstrations against rising cost of living progressed peacefully in Mzuzu, but hell broke loose soon after the petition was delivered.

As the crowd dispersed, lead organiser Bon Kalindo urged them to peacefully go to their homes, but some unknown people started throwing stones at houses, and smashed some vehicles at Chibanja along the M1.

Tyres were burnt, and some people spread to Chibavi, Chiputula and Katoto areas where they did the same. Police, with the help of soldiers from Moyale Barracks, intervened, firing tear gas to disperse the crowd.

The trouble makers were mostly young, who, found excitement in the whole fracas, but it was traffic that was disturbed, so, too, businesses for people along the road.

Those whose houses are along the M1, had a share of the tear gas, as their dwelling places were filled with the gas—an endurance they had for a better part of the afternoon yesterday.

National Police spokesperson James Kadadzera said they were going on with the operation and would provide a report thereafter.

Unconfirmed reports indicated yesterday that police had netted six people, but more arrests were expected.

During the protests that started from Katoto football ground to Mzuzu Civic Offices, Kalindo kept insisting that some people, including Malawi Congress Party campaign director Moses Kunkuyu had organised people to foil the protests.

“I know that Moses Kunkuyu invited some people at Grand Palace, gave them money to deal with me and foil the protests, but look at the thousands of people that have come, are you not ashamed?

“As for UTM [Party], some of you tried hard Thursday evening using a mobile van telling people that the protests had been postponed. Let me tell you this, I started UTM myself, and I will deflate it myself,” he said.

On the rising cost of living, Kalindo challenged government to come up with an economic recovery plan that would bring hope to Malawians.

“Government has seven days; let it reduce prices of fuel, water tariffs, and all basic goods. If that is not done, we will head to the districts, and continue protesting until our concerns are addressed,” he said.

Like Kalindo, who hailed the protesters and police for conducting themselves peacefully, Mzuzu City Council spokesperson McDonald Gondwe, who received the petition, said he was grateful that the protesters acted lawfully.

However, Kunkuyu, while admitting that he was in Mzuzu on Friday to attend national prayers, said he left Grand Palace Hotel immediately after having lunch, and never tried to frustrate the protests.

He said: “I have suffered loss of property and physical harm perpetrated by evil-minded politicians before and I don’t bear any grudge against the perpetrators of these acts. Having experienced that myself, I cannot wish it to happen to anyone.

“Apart from being my brother, Bon Kalindo has every right to hold demonstrations in this country and I cannot plan to go against that right.  It is sad that my being in Mzuzu in the company of other workmates, is being associated with the demonstrations.”

Kunkuyu said he was glad that there is no evidence of any attempts to frustrate the demonstrations, insisting: “We have a mission to serve Malawians; our focus and that of the President will not be swayed.”

UTM Party director of youth in the North Mzondi Mkandawire also distanced the party from the alleged acts against Kalindo, saying: “We did not have anything to do with whatever that happened, or the protests.”

Minister of Information Gospel Kazako said on Thursday that Capital Hill was yet to hear from protest organisers on how demonstrating in the streets will bring solutions in the absence of a round-table dialogue.

“On closing of borders, we advise them to consult the laws of this country. They will not succeed in provoking government because we believe in peace and not confrontation. 

“Malawians are intelligent people, and they are able to see if, indeed, the motivation of these demos are the issues they claim to represent, or there is something else?”

Earlier, Finance Minister Felix Mlusu said in Parliament that government is working on an economic recovery plan, but was not clear on when it will be made available.

In recent months, fuel pump prices have gone up by an average 22 percent as have prices of fertiliser, cooking oil, water tariffs and there is a pending electricity tariff adjustment.

Meanwhile, inflation—the rate of the general rise in prices of goods and services in an economy—is expected to close the year at 9.1 percent from 8.6 percent, largely driven by increases in prices of fuel, fertiliser and food.