Lilongwe district commissioner Stallichi Mwambiwa has stopped the Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) from holding demonstrations in the capital city today against anti-immigrant attacks in South Africa that have displaced thousands, including Malawians.
HRCC, which says it represents 97 civil society organisations, planned to march to the South African High Commission in Lilongwe to present a petition demanding greater protection for Malawians living in South Africa.
But Mwambiwa said the notification from HRCC reached his office on Friday afternoon, leaving insufficient time to convene the mandatory stakeholder meeting required before a demonstration can take place.
“The notification reached our office on Friday afternoon, leaving us with no time to hold the important engagement required by law,” he said yesterday.
Mwambiwa said HRCC has instead been invited to attend a stakeholder meeting today.
Under Sections 96 and 104 of the Police Act, organisers are required to notify the DC at least 48 hours before a demonstration and provide a copy of the notice to the police.
The law also requires the DC, police and organisers to meet to agree on issues such as the protest route, traffic management and security.
While the Act does not empower the DC to prohibit a demonstration, organisers dissatisfied with the outcome of the stakeholder meeting may seek redress in the High Court of Malawi.
The planned protest follows a June 30 deadline reportedly issued by vigilante groups targeting foreign nationals in South Africa.
HRCC had also notified the South African High Commission of its intention to deliver the petition.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Government Communication and Information System chief director William Baloyi has dismissed the June 30 ultimatum as “not a government pronouncement”, assuring that authorities “will not allow any instability”.
