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No State House vigils, Apam told

Plans by Association of People with Albinism in Malawi (Apam) to hold vigils at Kamuzu Palace have collapsed after Lilongwe City Council (LCC) yesterday denied the grouping permission to march and stage vigils at State House.

The city council has instead asked Apam to present their petition to President Peter Mutharika through LCC at the Civic Offices.

Mutharika meeting representatives of PWAs last Thursday

The city council’s position was communicated during a meeting yesterday in Lilongwe to discuss the proposed Apam demonstration and vigils slated for March 6 to 8 2019 which ended in a deadlock after the two parties failed to agree on the route and venue for the vigils.

Both LCC chief executive officer Gensher M’bwabwa and Human Rights Defenders Coalition chairperson Timothy Mtambo confirmed the deadlock in separate interviews.

The major point of discussion and argument was Section 103 of the Police Act (2010) which provides restrictions on demonstrations or assemblies within State Residences premises.

Reads the provision: “All assemblies and demonstrations within the precincts of any building which is being used as Parliament, a State Residence or a court, or at any open air space within a radius of one hundred metres from such building are prohibited, unless authorised by the Speaker, the President or the Chief Justice, as the case may be.”

In an interview after the meeting, Mtambo, who led a team seven people from Apam and other civil society organisations (CSOs) to the meeting, said the government team produced a letter advising them about the decision not to hold vigils at State House.

He said the CSOs had not received the said letter prior to yesterday’s meeting.

The letter, signed by M’bwabwa, is dated February 28 and addressed to Mtambo and Apam president Overstone Kondowe.

It reads: “The Lilongwe City Council has granted you permission to hold the peaceful march and vigil on Wednesday 6th March 2019 on the following conditions: [1]. Route: Lilongwe Community Centre ground via Mchesi to Kamuzu Central Roundabout on Presidential Way on to Convention Road to the Civic Offices;

“[2]. Place of delivery of petition. Section 103 of the Police Act prohibits assembly or demonstrations within the precincts of the State Residence unless authorised by the President. In view of the above

provision, the petition shall be delivered to Lilongwe City Council offices at the Civic Centre and handed to the chief executive officer for Lilongwe City Council.”

In an interview, M’bwabwa said the meeting ended in a deadlock as the two parties could not agree on the place for vigils.

He said: “We have given them the position of government, more especially Lilongwe City Council that they can proceed with the vigil, but it has to be at Lilongwe City Council not at State House because that is a protected area and it is stipulated in the Police Act that no one should demonstrate at State House.

“So, based on that, they are supposed to come to Lilongwe City Council. If they want to go to State House, then they have to get authorisation from State House themselves, not us as City Council.”

Mtambo, on the other hand, wondered why it took the council so long to respond to their letter for the vigils, having submitted a notification two weeks ago.

He said: “They simply want to stop people with albinism from demonstrating. One thing I can assure you is that we will proceed with the vigils.”

Even if the protesters defy the position and proceed to Kamuzu Palace, President Peter Mutharika will not be available in Lilongwe as he is travelling to Mzuzu in the Northern Region today to undertake a number of engagements, including commissioning of the Mzimba Integrated Urban Water and Sanitation Project.

Presidential press secretary Mgeme Kalilani yesterday said Mutharika already met persons with albinism (PWAs) last Thursday and he will now simply go ahead to implement what was agreed.

“The President invited Apam and all other stakeholders, but they refused. Others came and there were very fruitful discussions that led to a number of commitments that government will now be implementing,” he said.

During the Thursday meeting attended by about 50 PWAs mostly drawn from the Southern Region under the banner of Poor and Concerned People with Albinism (Pacpwa), the President responded to demands of PWAs and directed Treasury to immediately start disbursing the K3.1 billion budgeted for the 2018-2022 National Action Plan on the Killings and Abduction of PWAs in the country.

The decision to snub the vigils has not amused Kondowe who insisted earlier that they will go ahead with their plans.

Malawi is experiencing a resurgence of attacks against persons with albinism, with two fatalities and three abductions since December 31 2018. Two of those who were abducted were later rescued by community members, one remains missing.

Since November 2014, the number of reported crimes against people with albinism in Malawi has risen to 152 cases, including 25 murders and more than 10 people missing, according to Apam.

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