Anti-NACGate CSOs Notify DC’s, IG, Chief Secretary On Jan 13th Demonstrations
The Civil Society Organisations planning National wide January 13 demonstrations on the state of governance in the country and NACGATE have on Wednesday served relevant authorities with a letter of notifying them on their planned demonstrations.
The notice has also named district of Karonga and
all four cities of Zomba, Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu as designated areas where
the demonstrations shall take place.
The letter made available indicates
that similar letters have been sent to the District Commissioners (DC) of
Karonga, and cities of Lilongwe (Lilongwe district council), Zomba,
Blantyre and Mzuzu. Inspector General of Police, the Chief Secretary of Government, and Station In-charge, Lilongwe Police Station have been served with copies of the
letter.
A
letter dated 6th January 2015 sent to Lilongwe DCs office signed by Timothy
Mtambo CHRR executive director and spokesperson for national demonstrations, endorsed
by 23 civil society organizations working in various sectors is among others “notifying”
the office about the planned demonstrations in line with section 96 [1] of the
Police Act [2010] which requires the conveners of the demonstrations or
protests to give notice of not less that forty-eight hours [48 hrs].
“These
demonstrations are in protest of the unwarranted funding from NAC of HIV and
AIDS funds to organizations that are not meant to receive such funding, and the
general decay of the state of governance in Malawi.” Reads part of the contents
in the letter
The
letter also appeals for the security to take its rightful role on the day “We
trust, Sir, that by this notice, the relevant security organs of the government
will take their rightful role as provided for in the Republican Constitution,
and further, in accordance with section 40 [2] [d] in respect of prevention of
obstruction on occasion of public assemblies, processions or demonstrations on
the public roads or streets.”
It
also indicates that petition articulating pressing issues and their
corresponding demands will be presented to the Chief Executive Officer.
 |
| Mtambo: Demonstrations shall be peaceful |
The
letter indicates that in all convening points demonstrations are expected to start at
9:00am. In Karonga, demonstrations shall start at
Karonga Roundabout to the District Assembly office to deliver the petition and in
the city of Mzuzu demonstrations shall start at Katoto to CIVIC offices. In Lilongwe
the route is from Community Ground to CIVIC
Offices, in Blantyre demonstrations
will start at Upper Stadium via High Way to deliver the petition at the CIVIC Offices while in Zomba
demonstrations shall start at Community Ground via Mponda Primary and direct to
Zomba District Assembly to deliver the petition.
In
an interview Timothy Mtambo said CSOs have chosen district of Karonga because in
their prepared petition contains mining issues that are taking place in the
district “there are a lot of injustice practices happening in Karonga because
of Mining taking place in the district so we want people of Karonga to present
their issues in their district and this is why we chose the district and
nothing beyond that” he said
While
warning people to refrain from starting violence as CSOs presents the petition
Mtambo also assured that the demonstrations shall be peaceful. He said CSOs have
also engaged with police on security issues where assurance was made by police
that there shall be no intimidation on the day.
“Everything
shall be peaceful, we will make sure that there is no violence and on the day we
don’t want anyone to steal even a single flower” he said
CSOs have also indicated that the dressing colour
during the demonstrations shall be red. Clothes/t-shirts with HIV/AIDS messages
says shall also be encouraged to be worn during the day.
Detailed 13TH
JANUARY 2015 DEMONSTRATIONS ROUTES
1.
LILONGWE
·
COMMUNITY GROUND via Nchesi via Central Hospital
Roundabout via Lingazi Roundabout via NAC offives via parliament then deliver
the petition at the CIVIC OFFICES
2.
BLANTYRE
·
UPPER
STADIUM via High Way and the deliver the petition at the CIVIC OFFICES
3.
MZUZU
·
KATOTO
via Mzuzu tower via Mzuzu High Court rounderabout and then deliver a petition
at CIVIC OFFICES
4.
ZOMBA
·
COMMUNITY
GROUND via Mponda Primary and direct to the Zomba district assembly to deliver
the petition
5.
KARONGA
·
KARONGA
ROUNDABOUT the direct to Karonga DISTRICT ASSEMBLY to deliver the petition
CSOs
that endorsed the letter are:
Malawi Health
Equity Network (MHEN)
Centre for
Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR)
Centre for
the Development of People (CEDEP)
Nurses
Organization of Malawi
Malawi
Network of Religious Leaders Living with HIV and AIDS
Malawi
Network of People Living With HIV and AIDS
Citizens for
Justice (CFJ)
Civic and
Political Space (CPS)
Church and
Society Programme– Livingstonia Synod (CSP-LS)
Human Rights
Defenders Forum (HRDF)
Hebrews
Misomali (In his capacity as a human rights defender)
Benedicto
Kondowe (In his capacity as a human rights defender)
Malawi Human
Rights Resource Centre
National
Elections Trust
ANPPCAN
Malawi Chapter
Family
Planning Association of Malawi
Local NGO
Forum on HIV/AIDS
Foundation
for Community Support Services
Youth and
Society
Child Development
and Support Organization
Centre for
Youth Development
Outreach
Scout Foundation
Youth
Watch and Society
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