A religious grouping known as Young Pastors Coalition in Mzuzu has expressed dismay over the move by the country`s Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to hold anti government protests over the mists surrounding the donations from National Aids Commission (NAC) to organizations that are not in the HIV/AIDS fight.
Cultural Heritage Cooperation of Malawi Acting Director Dr. Owen Mbewe has described the planned demonstrations by some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) as unnecessary.
Addressing the media in Lilongwe on Friday, Dr. Mbewe said the CSOs have personal interest in the planned demonstrations hence their reasons for demonstrating are not valid.
“Where were all these people and CSOs when people were stealing money from government in the infamous cashgate scandal and hiding it in cars and roof-sealing, why did they not choose to demonstrate then?” pondered Mbewe.
He added, “I appeal to Malawians to change their mentality on how to deal with issues affecting the nation, people should not rush to demonstrate but try to find a peaceful solutions through dialogue.”
However in a Press conference held today in the commercial capital Blantyre, Civil Society Youth Consortium, Islamic Commission for Peace and Freedom and a concerned citizen Luther Mambala said the demonstrations are baseless.
The three groupings said they are smelling a rat that the planned demonstration are against BEAM and Mulhako WA Alhomwe when other organizations have benefited from NAC in the past.
CSOs have slated Tuesday, 13 January, for nationwide protests to force the First Lady and the cultural grouping of Mulhako wa Alhomwe to reimburse back the money to National Aids Commission , a scandal christened NAC-gate as well as force government to act soon on the scandal.
According to one of the organisers, Gift Trapence, who is the Executive Director for Centre for Peoples Development (Cedep) has confirmed that the protests will take place and that all Malawians should participate as it is their right to do so.
As it stands, the protests are on and the CSOs have hinted of not cancelling them as called for by various stakeholders.
