Making briquettes at Malasha
Chapter IV, sections 32, 35 and 38 of the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of association, expression and lawful assembly. It is against these constitutional rights that numerous civil rights groups and organisations are championing a wide range thematic agendas in our society. Of late, a week hardly passes without hearing announcement for demonstrations in cities or districts across Malawi, culminating in nationwide demonstrations.
Malawians are free to demonstrate as long as they have genuine grievances against authorities. Reflecting on the recent spate of demonstrations in the country, one is inclined to conclude that most of their agendas are bordering on hate, ignorance and scoring personal vendettas.
Demonstrations are successful only when the larger part of the citizenry or society shares similar concerns for common redress, otherwise they tend to bring together a bunch of frustrated mob in the streets. It is understandable that demonstrations can be staged by one person as long as the cause is genuine.
So far, the current demonstrations are being organised for some of the following reasons: Pushing for the resignation of President Lazarus Chakwera and Vice-President Saulos Chilima over failed promises and souring economy, calling for the ouster of Anti-Corruption Bureau director general Martha Chizuma and the removal of presidential immunity.
Demonstrations are a power voice to change things. Examples include the three-week anti-Mubarak protest at Tahirir Square in Egypt that led to the collapse of the Mubarak regime and the 2019 post-election wave of demonstrations that successfully curtailed Professor Peter Mutharika and DPP’s second term.
From a deep analysis, agendas of the current spate of demonstrations seem not shared by the majority of Malawians and the likelihood of achieving their objectives is doubtful. On the unfulfilled Tonse Alliance promises, Malawians need to admit that politicians have always given them a raw deal. We all recall that former president Bakili Muluzi promised shoes to every Malawian and two years ago, Tonse Alliance gurus promised cheap fertilisers.
As long as Malawians keep all their trust and hope on campaign promises, they will detest every leadership that comes. Politicianstake advantage of the high illiteracy levels, poverty and perpetuate a culture of handouts to achieve their goals.
When the Tonse Alliance gurus paraded bags of fertilisers and said they would be sold at K4 000, we all clapped hands and nobody dared asking how they would do it. Come today, the very bag of fertiliser is selling at over K50 000.
We all need to understand that world over, countries are going through tough economic situations which is worse in developing countries like Malawi.
When economies were recovering from Covid 19 pandemic, the Russian-Ukraine war came. Government is pursuing tough austerity measures to heal the economy and it would constitute a coup d’etat to change a dully constituted government simply because of rising prices of commodities.
Most demonstrations tend to be a pathway to loot and vandalise people’s property. In an attempt to block demonstrations, former President.Bingu wa Mutharika came up with a regulation that demonstrations organisers should deposit K2 million in advance to pay for damage costs. He also ordered the police to shoot and kill people that damaged property.
Where demonstrators riot or damage property and businesses, security agents are left with no option but to apply non-lethal weapons such as water cannons, rubber bullets, pepper spray and tear gas.
Recently, in Lilongwe some people launched a counter-demonstration armed with pangas knives against any attempt by demonstrators to loot shops. This poses a delicate security risk as clashes between opposing forces are likely to turn violent leading to civil strife which would be regrettable.
