Mzuzu City Council (MCC) has cleared the planned anti-government demonstrations organised by former UTM Party director of youth Bon Kalindo scheduled for tomorrow in Mzuzu.
In an interview yesterday, MCC spokesperson McDonald Gondwe said the clearance followed a two – hour stakeholders’ meeting held at civic offices in the city.
He said the city council tried to reason with organisers to cancel their planned demos, arguing that there was no need to present a petition at MCC because similar ones were delivered to Blantyre and Lilongwe city councils.
“They insisted that they have to go ahead. We also looked into all the parameters of security and other issues and in conclusion, [we resolved] to clear the demonstrators. So they have been cleared.”
Among the issues in the petitions delivered to Blantyre and Lilongwe city councils, Kalindo wants government to address challenges Malawians are facing such as the rising prices of goods and services and reduce toll gate fees.
Commenting on the planned demonstrations, Minister of Information Gospel Kazako wondered why Kalindo and other organisers have insisted to go ahead with the protests yet government has addressed some of the concerns.
Efforts to speak to Kalindo and his close associate Levi Luwemba, who is also one of the organisers, proved futile as their mobile phones were not available on several attempts.
Both Blantyre and Lilongwe demonstrations, which took place on November 19 and 26 respectively, were marred with violence.
