Civil Rights Group Postpones Demos due to absence of Chakwera

The Civil Rights Grouping has shifted the demonstration against Political impunity slated for tomorrow, Thursday to a later date.

Leader of the grouping, Silvester Namiwa told reporters in Lilongwe that the development comes with the absence of Dr Lazarus chakwera who is in Democratic Republic of Congo attending the Sadc Meeting.

Namiwa and his group announced earlier their plans to hand their petition to the President and he says the group under the banner action against impunity wants the President to receive the petition himself.

He says the date for the fresh demonstrations to be held under the banner, “Chakwera alandire chikalata” will be announced.

“Due to the description of th set of demonstration that we announced under the banner “Chakwera alandire chikalata “, we have decided to postpone the demonstration because as we all aware that President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has travelled to Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC.

“Holding demonstration while he is outside the country will not make any sense because to hand-deliver the petition, this is why we targeted State Residencies,” said Namiwa.

Namiwa has since warned the district Commissioners against being used by Political Authorities to deny Citizens from exercising their rights to hold peaceful demonstration citing the communication from Lilongwe DC which asked the group to shift the planned demonstration.

However, District Commissioner for Lilongwe, Dr Palani has denied the accusation by Namiwa arguing that the CSO should understand the reason that Police will be committed with duties on the said date.

“I hope CDEDI is aware that in the past we have always been giving them the right to demonstrate and we have given them a go ahead to do that. This time around they should also understand that Police Officers who gives protection to the organisers and Citizens are busy,” said Palani.

The grouping has also requested the government not to effect the tariff hike as requested by the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi, Escom.