‘Peace key to development’

People’s Federation for National Peace and Development on Wednesday took to the streets to sensitise citizens on the need to voluntarily surrender firearms to Malawi Police Service to promote peace and security in the country.

Speaking to residents in Limbe, Blantyre, the organisation’s executive director Edward Chaka said the initiative is important as it ensures that peace prevails in Malawi.

He said: “We are finalising our activity for the month. We call September African Union Amnesty month when we ask citizens in African countries to surrender their firearms to government institutions.

“The goal is to reduce gun violence that is increasing in Malawi as well as in other African countries.”

Chaka said as peace and security advocates, they want to achieve Sustainable Development Goal Number 16 which seeks to achieve peaceful space for development to thrive.

Limbe resident Tiyesi Edwin said the message came at the right time when thugs are terrorising residents with firearms.

“We are facing a huge threat from the proliferation of firearms,” he said.

National Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya encouraged Malawians to surrender their firearms as a way of promoting security in the country.

“We encourage citizens to submit or transfer ownership of their firearms to the Police,” he said.

In 2017 African Union declared September as an African Amnesty month for the surrender and collection of illicit small arms and light weapons.