Demonstrations led by Limbe Market second-hand clothes vendors turned ugly yesterday as some protesters broke into shops in Blantyre’s commercial town and stole various items.
This comes a day after their counterparts in Lilongwe stormed Parliament to protest the rising prices of merchandise.
Top among their concerns is the high cost of goods, especially bales of used clothes, for which they demanded that government should provide tangible solutions to help save their businesses and livelihoods.
The Limbe vendors, who marched from Limbe to Chichiri Shopping Mall on their way to Blantyre CBD through Masauko Chipembere Highway before police intercepted them, blocked the highway with concrete blocks.
However, some went on rampage in Limbe, breaking into shops and stole goods, including bags of maize flour. While others pelted motorists with stones and damaged their vehicles.
Chirombo
In an interview yesterday, Limbe Police Station spokesperson Aubrey Singanyama said 26 people have been arrested in connection with the looting and various offences committed during and after the protest.
He said: “As we are talking now all the 26 suspects are in a police cell. But we are still on the ground to arrest more people alleged to have taken advantage of the demonstrations to commit various offences.”
The protesters further burnt tyres and blocked the road that connects Limbe and Blantyre CBD.
When police tried to clear the highway between Chichiri Roundabout and Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (Mubas), some protesters resisted, compelling the law enforcers to fire more tear gas to disperse them.
Some officers were seen firing live ammunition in the air towards Kamuzu Stadium where most protesters ran for cover.
The tear gas engulfed the Chichiri Shopping Mall area and affected onlookers and journalists covering the protest march. One canister fell near Blantyre Baptist Primary School car park, forcing the school to administer first aid to the young learners affected by the gas.
In the running battles with police, one vehicle got involved in an accident as demonstrators threw stones at it.
“Some pulled out the driver [a businessperson of Asian origin] and robbed him of money and two laptops,” said one man who witnessed the incident.
A kaunjika vendor, Jane Chimwaza, who did not participate in the protests, said the demonstrations were hijacked by thugs.
She said some of the issues were resolved on Wednesday and market leaders agreed to call off the protest march.
Highway. | James Chavula
Said Chimwaza: “We came to conduct our business not to demonstrate because yesterday we agreed not to proceed with the protests.”
One of the affected shop owners, Asif Abdullar, also described some of the protesters as “thugs who steal at the back of demonstrations.”
“I don’t understand why they resorted to smashing my shop? I don’t sell second hand clothes. I believe that some of these people are just thieves,” he said.
Limbe Market Second Hand Clothes and Shoes Vendors chairperson Samuel Mponda said the demonstration did not receive their blessing.
“As Limbe Market leadership, we don’t recognise these demonstrations and people who are seen breaking shops are not second hand clothes and shoe vendors.
“But if government fails to address our concerns within a week, we will hold our demonstrations.”
The situation calmed down by 1pm in both Limbe and Chichiri.
However, about some individuals began to regroup 30 minutes later to continue with the protests.
This resulted in fresh running battles between the police and the group although the law enforcers did not disperse the group and calm returned to the city.—Additional reporting by JAMES CHAVULA and WISDOM MHANGO, Staff Writers.
