‘Naked’ demo on today

Mulanje South member of Parliament (MP) Bon Kalindo (Democratic Progressive Party-DPP), who is leading a movement planning to demonstrate in favour of concrete action against perpetrators of attacks on people with albinism, says the ‘naked’ march will proceed as planned today.

In an interview yesterday, Kalindo, popularly known as Winiko in arts circles where he is a comedian and actor, said the march will start at 8am from Area 18 Roundabout to Parliament Building in Lilongwe.

He said he has received “overwhelming support” from Malawians and other people of goodwill internationally and he hopes to be joined by a large group during the march that will end with presentation of a petition to Parliament.

Kalindo said all was set for the demonstrations and encouraged Malawians who share his sentiments to join him.

However, Kalindo said marchers will not be in their birthday suits as initially planned; hence, those joining him should wear a minimum of red underwear

for men and red bikinis and bras in case of women.

He said: “Instead of marching all naked, the demonstrators are going to be half-naked. However, I am requesting all who want to join me, but cannot manage to be half-naked to put on any red regalia.”

Kalindo said several human rights activists, including Billy Mayaya, have shown interest to join him.

Although the Constitution provides for a death penalty, all presidents in democratic Malawi have declined to sign execution orders for those on death row and the demonstrators aim to push President Peter Mutharika to sign the execution orders.

In another development, Kalindo has disowned an open letter purported to have been authored by him to President Peter Mutharika, Cabinet ministers and governing DPP accusing the ruling elite of enriching themselves while failing to provide security for people with albinism.

Kalindo, who is also DPP deputy spokesperson, said the document was authored by his haters.