‘Brace for more demos’

Citizens against Impunity and Corruption (CAIC), a group of individuals who organised on Friday’s demonstrations in Lilongwe, announced it will soon embark on a series of indefinite protests aimed at fighting high-level impunity and organised corruption in the country.

One of the organisers, Sylvester Ayuba James, made the declaration on Friday when the group delivered a petition to Lilongwe district commissioner (DC) Lawford Palani following a peaceful march held in the Capital City.

The protests targeted the DC, who earlier this week cancelled demonstrations by the group that wanted to hold vigils against businessperson Ashok Kumar Sreedharan, also known as Ashok Nair, who dragged to court Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director general Martha Chizuma, for defamation. Ashok is a business associate for Zuneth Sattar who is under investigation both in Malawi and the United Kingdom over corruption issues. 

Ashok who is under investigation is suing Chizuma following a leaked audio in which the ACB director general is heard saying a certain judge received money from Ashok ahead of a hearing for his bail application.

Ashok is seeking damages over alleged defamatory statements emanating from the audio. 

James told the gathering that the group will be holding demonstrations for suspected individuals and institutions that are frustrating the fight against graft in the country and warned Palani to desist from obstructing the planned protests.

He cited individuals such as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Steven Kayuni and Ashok as among those the group will target, and some Cabinet ministers and seniors State House officers whose names he did not mention.

Said James: “We have visited your office to warn you against being on the wrong side of events. We ask your office that from today onwards you should never interfere with citizens in their efforts to deal with corruption in the country. In this war, if you cannot be on the side of the people, you are an enemy of the State.”

Earlier, the protesters brought business to a standstill in Lilongwe’s Old Town where shops and other business outlets remained closed till late afternoon.

On a number of occasions, police and the demonstrators clashed as the law enforcers fired tear gas canisters at unruly crowds who were pelting stones at some shops and offices en route to the DC’s office.

One police officer was injured in the process and had to be rushed to hospital. The organisers of the demonstrations apologised for the unfortunate incident.

Our reporters witnessed a number of violent protesters being rounded up by police following running battles between the two groups around Area 3.

In his remarks after receiving the petition, Palani thanked the organisers for holding peaceful protests and promised to work on the issues raised in the petition.

“I promise you that I will make sure that the issues you have raised have been attended to.”