The Maravi Post

BLANTYRE--Police in Blantyre suspect individuals or groups are influencing primary and secondary school pupils who have taken a prominent role in pushing government to act on strikes by public workers demanding higher pay.

The demonstration which started with Chirimba primary school pupils invading Joyce Banda Foundation Primary School in Blantyre climaxed on Thursday.

Business came to a halt in the central business district of city of Blantyre when school children from different primary schools took to the streets chanting anti-President Joyce Banda songs.

The students were protesting against government’s failure to address their teachers’ concerns which has resulted in them abandoning classes.

The situation got worse in Zingwangwa and Chirimba Townships where the angry students smashed vehicles, burnt used tyres and created ad hoc road blocks. A PUMA fuel station at Kudya was smashed, looted and nearly set ablaze by the angry students from Zingwangwa secondary and primary schools who were joined by scores of onlookers.

The unruly crowd also damaged an Auto Teller Machine (ATM) for NBS Bank before police arrived at the scene and fired teargas canisters to disperse the crowd.

---

© The Maravi Post  2013

Add attachment