Cdedi leader forced out of demo meeting

Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (Cdedi) executive director Sylvester Namiwa was yesterday sent out of a stakeholders meeting on demonstrations set for Thursday this week.

Speaking in an interview yesterday, Namiwa said Blantyre district commissioner Bennet Nkasala told the meeting which was between the demonstration organisers and Blantyre District Council that Namiwa should not be party as his bail conditions do not allow him to take part in any demonstrations.

He said: “I don’t understand why he did this to me. My lawyer Oscar Taulo argued in court that demonstrations are a constitutional right. This is barbaric and unacceptable in a democratic society.”

But when contacted, Nkasala declined to comment on the matter.

Cdedi is planning to hold demonstrations in Lilongwe and Blantyre to demand President Lazarus Chakwera’s action against corruption, institutionalised incompetence and impunity.

The organisers are also faulting the President for failing to use his executive powers to address the challenges the country is facing.

Namiwa was arrested in Lilongwe on August 11  2021 and released on bail two days later for holding illegal demonstrations.