Lilongwe after demos
Lilongwe, as the epicentre of violence in Tuesday’s post-election mega demonstrations in three cities, was a city shell yesterday as companies, individuals and shop owners assessed the millions they lost in violent attacks.
The attacks happened when probably the largest crowd of demonstrators ever in Lilongwe descended upon some properties as they took part in a 15-kilometre walk to City Centre to force Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah to step down allegedly presiding over a fraudulent electoral process on May 21.
Yesterday, there were tell-tale signs of the carnage that had taken place the day before.
In certain spots, the tarmac had turned into ‘larva’ where the protesters had burnt tyres as roadblocks through which motorists were forced to pay passage fees.
On both sides of the Kamuzu Procession Road, almost all shops and offices had their glass facets shattered by stone throwers and others using catapult stones. The infrastructure owners were yesterday picking up the pieces by effecting repairs and mounting sturdy security bars.
Most of the victims said they were too shocked and angry to grant interviews,
Movesa operations manager Anis Ishmail lamented in an interview yesterday that the demonstrations has brought adverse impact on the business since they no longer have the capacity to operate the shop.
Simso Oil finance manager for Simama General Dealers Abraham Simama Junior said yesterday two of their filling stations at Bwaila and at Biwi had been attacked by around lunchhour yesterday.
The Nation team earlier yesterday witnessed the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldiers foiling a group of youngsters from looting some shops in the Capital City business zone. The MDF soldiers had also stopped other youths from blocking traffic on the dual carriage way near the Kamuzu Mausoleum, near where those who took part in the Tuesday protests had camped.
In a written response, Ministry of Health spokesperson Joshua Malango yesterday said Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) received eight cases of injuries on Tuesday.
