Malawi civil society organizations (CSOs) anti-Mutharika demonstrations in the commercial city of Blantyre fizzled today due to lack of support and Heavy rains and floods that have caused property damage.
human rights activists in Malawi staged the protests following reports that National Aids Commission (NAC) disbursed to First Lady Gertrude Mutharika’s Beautify Malawi (Beam) Trust and Mulhakho wa Alhomwe over MK 55 million (US$120,000) for non HIV/AIDS activities.
There was reported low turnout in the demonstrations which were held in Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Kalonga. Other CSOs had made their reservations known as to the bases of the demos in the first place.
Spokesperson for the pro-demonstrations human rights defenders, Timothy Mtambo, while submitting the petition in Lilongwe, reiterated that the activists will be forced to hold other intense demonstrations if government fails to meet the demands stipulated in the petition.
Based on events today this appears to be an empty threat. Many had warned the leadership that dialogue would have done more good than forcing people to go in the streets when they had more immediate problems to take care of. Such as addressing the damage caused by the heavy rains.
“We are seriously worried with governance and economic trends under current leadership. The system is rotten with too much politicization on matters of national importance. Our goal is to see things back on track. We will not stop. Expect more intense protests if government fails to take heed of our current petition” said Mtambo.
Veteran civil rights activist John Kapito, had cautioned against the failed demonstrations as he felt they lacked substance.
