DPP, UDF leaders in demo no-show

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders were conspicuously missing duringThursday’s demonstrations against prevailing economic hardships, poor governance and perceived slackening pace in the fight against corruption.

The largely peaceful demonstrations organised by a grouping calling itself Citizens Action Against Impunity were held in Blantyre and Zomba on Thursday.

Prior to the demonstrations, DPP and UDF supported the action and asked their respective supporters to turn out in large numbers. However, the turn out was low as a couple scores of people took part in the two cities.

However, Soche East Ward councillor Leonard Chimbanga was the only notable face from DPP leadership at the demonstrations championed by social media activist Joshua Chisa Mbele, who in the 2019 Tripartite Elections contested for the Salima Central parliamentary seat on a UTM Party ticket.

The missing of party leaders angered some of their supporters who were overheard complaining that their leaders just wanted to use them.

“That’s why we no longer trust DPP leaders. They only fight for their own interest,” said one of the protesters, who refused to give his name.

On why there was no high level participation, both DPP administrative secretary Francis Mphepo and UDF spokesperson Yusuf Mwawa were elusive.

In an interview, Mwawa said it was difficult to quantify the party’s contribution towards the demonstration, as participants did not put on party regalia.

On the other hand, Mphepo, who signed the DPP’s notice endorsing the demonstrations and asking supporters to attend, refused to comment on the protests.

“ I just signed that communication, but I am not a DPP spokesperson,” he said.

Speaking to the protesters in Blantyre, Mbele said the Chakwera administration has failed to deal with corruption and alleviate poverty levels.

He said: “Corruption and poverty levels have drastically gone up since Chakwera took over [in June 2020]. So, we can’t keep quiet when the situation is  worsening. We want him to act now.”

The other leaders involved in the organisation were Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives executive director Sylvester Namiwa and former UTM Party director of youth Bon Kalindo.

Blantyre City Council director of administration Hastings Dowe, who received the petition on behalf of Blantyre district commissioner (DC) Bennett Nkasala, assured the petitioners that the petition will be forwarded to the relevant offices.

In Blantyre, the protesters marched from Kamuzu Stadium upper ground through the Masauko Chipembere Highway to Blantyre District Council offices in the central business district where they presented a petition.

In Zomba, they marched from Matawale Turn-off to Zomba DC’s office to deliver the petition.

Zomba DC Smart Gwedemula received the petition and pledged to submit it to the authorities for action.

But one Zomba resident Christopher Mbewe, who took part in the protest march, described the demonstrations as wrongly timed. He said demonstrations have in the recent past not produced desired results.

Minister of Information and Digitisation Gospel Kazako, who is also the official government spokesperson, could not be reached to give government’s take on the issues raised and the protest march in general.

Political analyst Ernest Thindwa and politician-cum-analyst Humphrey Mvula on Wednesday told The Nation that active party involvement would put a dent on the demonstration.

However, political analyst Nandin Patel and governance expert Undule Mwakasungula backed the endorsements, saying there is nothing wrong with backing street protests.

Between 2019 and mid- 2020, Malawi Congress Party and UTM Party also supported protests against the handling of the 2019 presidential elections organised by Human Rights Defenders Coalition. President Lazarus Chakwera and Vice- President Saulos Chilima, then in opposition, were seen taking part in some of the protest marches in Blantyre and Lilongwe.

Today, the protest marches are scheduled to take place in Lilongwe. n