CSOs change tune on demos

The Civil Society Grand Coalition says there is no guarantee it will organise demonstrations in Lilongwe and Mzuzu, as earlier planned, due to change of strategy.
The coalition was reacting to a question on the progress of the proposed demonstrations against “bad leadership” after it championed the first demonstrations in Blantyre in February this year and announced that more would follow in Lilongwe and Mzuzu.
The coalition’s spokesperson Lucky Mbewe on Thursday said there has been a change of approach to people’s concerns.
“We have been meeting since the demonstrations in Blantyre, the latest being last Saturday. We have slightly changed the strategy because we want to sensitise people on the qualities of leaders to vote for in the forthcoming elections,” said Mbewe.
He said what they demonstrated against was “bad leadership”, that is why the focus is on guiding people on the qualities of leaders they should choose.

 
Mbewe dismissed suggestions that the change was caused by the low turnout registered in in Blantyre, where there was low turnout, arguing the event was successful.
“Blantyre was fine although we worked under a lot of propaganda from government. This time, we will come in full force but we cannot reveal what will happen,” he said.
He pointed out that the demonstrations were being done against the background of lack of resources against government that had resources.
The Blantyre demonstrations saw the coalition march from Kanjedza Primary School, through Kenyatta Drive and Moi Road to the Civic Centre where a petition was presented to Blantyre City Council chief executive officer Ted Nandolo and district commissioner Atanazio Chibwana.
Issues raised in the petition included a call for Parliament to discuss the Capital Hill Cashgate; disclosure of names of companies and individuals involved in the scandal; ensuring that Cashgate suspects are disqualified from standing in the May 20 2014 Tripartite Elections; disclosure of source of the President’s handouts; and how proceeds from the sale of the presidential jet were spent. n