Smoky Blantyre

Running battles between Malawi Police Service (MPS) officers and demonstrators yesterday turned the Blantyre central business district (CBD) smoky as police fired tear gas to disperse the crowds.

Before the demonstrations started, there were violent scenes. A police unit near Blantyre Bus Stands was burnt by youths alleged to have been hired to counter the demonstrations. At least four people were stabbed and hacked, and passersby were robbed of valuables, including mobile phones.

Police arrested 10 people in connection with the violence, according to Blantyre Police Station spokesperson Peter Mchiza.

Southern Region Police deputy spokesperson Edith Kachotsa, told Weekend Nation in an interview as the demonstrations were underway that leader of one group of the protesters, Bon Kalindo, had called off the protests following disagreements among them.

But a few minutes to midday, Kalindo dramatically stormed the CBD again from the Mbayani side past National Library Service. As he entered Glyn Jones Road, he received a hero’s welcome.

In an interview as he walked into the CBD, Kalindo dismissed police claims that he had called off the demonstrations, saying  it was a lie because he was going ahead with the march as planned.

He then walked up to Chibisa House, turned into Livingstone Avenue to connect to Haile Selassie Road where he, together with his followers, received a storm of tear gas, dispersing them in the process.

But unperturbed by the tear gas, Kalindo continued to negotiate with police.   

Still accompanied by a handful of people, as others took cover, and most offices and shops closed, he entered Glyn Jones Road, walking towards the Clock Tower, looking determined to proceed with the demonstrations. He, however, did not go far as his group was once again tear-gassed as they approached the Clock Tower.

Again, he stood his ground and negotiated with police, assuring them that theirs was a peaceful demonstration that had been infiltrated by a group sponsored by government which he said was causing trouble in town.

Police eventually allowed him and his group to proceed, and they did. Along the way, they chanted songs demanding the Tonse Alliance administration to address the economic hardships Malawians are going through.

They also called on President Lazarus Chakwera and Vice-President Saulos Chilima to step down, alleging that they have failed to fulfil their campaign promises, close to two years in government.

They chanted Chakwera is a dishonest leader, leading a corrupt and nepotistic administration, while calling Chilima “a double-faced person who lied about one million jobs, free water and electricity connections and reduced passport fees.

As they passed by Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, they chanted about lack of drugs in the hospital resulting in needless deaths of patients. As they passed by the High Court and Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal premises, they called on the Judiciary to allow them to vote again.

At civic offices, where Kalindo read a petition which he later handed to a representative of Blantyre City Council chief executive officer, he announced his resignation as a board member of Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC).

“We are giving the President 14 days to respond to our concerns; if he fails to do that, expect to see more of these demonstrations. Our leaders taught us not to fear; let us fear no one.

“We know those people that caused chaotic scenes in town and stabbed people; they were sponsored by government to kill us. But we are not afraid. From here, we are going to Lilongwe next Friday and to Mzuzu the other week,” Kalindo said.

On Wednesday this week, Kalindo also resigned as national youth director in Chilima’s UTM Party.

Government spokesperson, who is also Minister of Information Gospel Kazako, said in a response to a questionnaire that the Tonse government sorts out issues using peaceful administrative means.

“Our situation in this country is aggravated by a global economic slowdown. All countries in the world are affected. Malawi is part of the world. The process of getting back the economy to where we want it to be is not work for few days,” he said.

On Kalindo’s resignation as MHC board member, Kazako said when one is appointed to a public office; he or she also has the freedom to resign. He said Kalindo exercised his freedom.

Making his statement authoritatively, Kalindo said there are things government could address even yesterday and they included exorbitant tollgate fees, and prices of fertiliser and groceries, removal of connection fees on water and electricity, which were part of the campaign promises.

Kalindo, who turned against the former governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) alongside the party’s national youth director then, Louis Ngalande, before he joined forces with UTM and campaigned heavily for it, claimed the Tonse Alliance administration is more corrupt and nepotistic than the previous administration.

“I was part of the team that heavily campaigned for UTM and later the Tonse Alliance; I am sorry we misled you. I take responsibility and that is why I have resigned from UTM. I have given them back their car. And today I also resign as a board member of MHC,” he said.

For the better part of the day, Blantyre CBD was volatile after police fired tear gas to prevent demonstrators from attacking one another.

The demonstrators started gathering at the Town Hall near Immigration premises as early as 7.30am, and when Kalindo did not show up they, demanded that he should lead them in the demonstrations. 

The group then created a chaotic scene by pelting at one another with stones right in front of armed police officers. This forced the police to start firing tear gas.

The youths, who identified themselves as minibus call boys whose livelihood was cut off after they were forced out by government, alleged that Kalindo had promised them cash if they joined in the demonstrations.