Protesters give Chakwera 20 days on devaluation

Protesters in Blantyre led by human rights activist Bon Kalindo on Wednesday gave President Lazarus Chakwera 20 days to address challenges Malawians are facing due to the 44 percent kwacha devaluation effected on November 9 this year.

Kalindo noted that most Malawians are struggling to feed themselves and their dependents due to the rising prices of goods and services in the aftermath of the devaluation.

He said that despite the devaluation of the kwacha from K1 180. 29 to K1 700 against the dollar, employees are still receiving same salaries and asked Chakwera to adjust upwards civil servants salaries by about 50 percent.

Speaking before delivering the petition, he said: “We want the President to address these issues because currently Malawians are going through a lot. Prices of water, electricity, fuel, maize, fertiliser and other basic needs have gone up, but salaries are just the same.

“So if he fails to address these issues after 20 days, we will continue holding demonstrations nationwide. I am not afraid of anyone.”

The former UTM Party youth director also asked Chakwera to justify why, despite the number of Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) beneficiaries trimmed from last year’s 2.5 million people to 1.5 million, farmers continue to struggle to redeem their farm inputs.

Blantyre District Council human resources management officer Charles Mphepo, who received the petition on behalf of the district commissioner, assured petitioners that his office will deliver the petition to the relevant offices.

The protesters marched from Kamuzu Stadium upper ground to Blantyre District Council offices via Masauko Chipembere Highway. They were accompanied by armed police.

During the march, they chanted “Achoke! Achoke! Chakwera ndi Chilima [Chakwera and Vice-President Saulos Chilima must resign].”

The demonstrations came two days before another group called Concerned Citizens of Malawi is on November 26 expected to hold demonstrations in the city  dubbed ‘Blantyre shutdown’, also protesting the impact of devaluation.