Black Monday receives cold reception

The call to Malawians to protest bad governance and theft of public resources by putting on black attire has received a cold reception, but the organisers, Civil Society Grand Coalition, have said they will not relent.

Black Monday was officially commissioned on Monday but a visit to several public places around the city of Lilongwe, including Capital Hill, did not show signs of Malawians showing their dissatisfaction with government by putting on black attire.

A resident of Mtandire in Lilongwe and casual worker, Patricia Mbewe, said she was not even aware of the call from civil society to protest in that manner.

“I didn’t hear anyone mentioning we should put on black clothes today. The money that was stolen is not mine anyway,” she said.

Another woman, Asiyatu Isaki, who resides in Mtsiliza, was at pains to explain what Black Monday was all about but she admitted she was not aware.

The Grand Coalition spokesperson Chris Chisoni admitted that Black Monday had started on a low note attributing the problem to the new concept of demonstrating dissatisfaction.

“There has been mixed reactions, most Malawians have not put on black clothes but we understand this is a new concept of showing dissatisfaction as you know demonstrations are more popular,” Chisoni said.

But the Grand Coalition is hopeful that the concept of demonstrating unhappiness with governance systems and theft of public resources would catch on with time.

The civil society organisations have planned to intensify publicity and tout Black Monday as a complement of other protest strategies.