Presidential immunity demos on—Cdedi
Some civil society organisations (CSOs) have lined up demonstrations in the country’s major cities today to force government to scrap off presidential immunity.
The CSOs are Mzuzu Youth Caucus, Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiative (Cdedi), Pan-African Civic Educators (Pacenet), the Social Revolution Movement and the Centre for Democracy Watch.
They are championing an initiative called Action Against Presidential Immunity (API).
In an interview yesterday, Cdedi executive director Sylvester Namiwa said they have notified all councils of the demonstrations.
He said: “The law allows us to notify councils of the demonstrations which we have done. So, I can confirm that the demonstrations are in all the cities and the mentioned districts.”
During a press briefing in Mzuzu on Wednesday, Mzuzu Youth Caucus director Gomezgani Nkhoma said the demonstrations are scheduled for the cities of Mzuzu, Lilongwe, Blantyre and Zomba as well as Mangochi, Ntcheu and Nsanje districts.
He said: “We have taken this position following the expiry of a two-week ultimatum which Cdedi gave President [Lazarus] Chakwera on the 4th of July 2022, to direct the Law Commission and the Attorney General to start the process of amending Section 91 of the Constitution, as one way of honouring his pledge of trimming presidential power.”
National Police deputy spokesperson Harry Namwaza confirmed receiving the notifications of demonstrations.
He said the police will provide security for persons marching on designated routes which stakeholders agreed on during preparatory meetings early this week.
Debate on whether the country should remove presidential immunity from prosecution while in office has drawn mixed views with some backing the status quo and others suggesting doing away with it will boost the graft fight.
The debate has resurfaced after Vice-President Saulos Chilima on July 1 this year publicly asked Chakwera to implement the campaign promise to amend Section 91(2) of the Constitution to do away with the provision that protects the country’s President from criminal prosecution.
