Dr. George Chaponda, the leader of opposition in Malawi’s National Assembly, has questioned the government’s motives for restricting demonstrations organized by the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI).
Speaking during parliament session on Monday 25th November 2024, Chaponda described the government’s actions as “dictatorial” and accused them of trying to silence the opposition.
CDEDI had planned to hold demonstrations in Lilongwe today to pressure the government to address the ongoing fuel crisis and to demand the resignation of Energy Minister Ibrahim Matola and Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) Director General Henry Kachaje.
The demonstrations were also intended to protest against the Malawi Electoral Commission’s (MEC) decision to engage Smartmatic in the voter registration process.
However, the Lilongwe City Council prohibited CDEDI from holding the demonstrations, citing potential disruptions to public order and safety.
The police have also been deployed to maintain law and order, with Francis Liyati Phiri, a human rights activist, condemning the police’s actions as a violation of people’s rights to demonstrate peacefully.
The demonstrations have received support from various opposition parties, including the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Alliance For Alliance (AFORD), United Democratic Front (UDF), UTM, and Economic Freedom Party (EFP).
These parties have been critical of the government’s handling of the fuel crisis and the electoral process.
This is not the first time that demonstrations have been held in Malawi to protest against the government’s policies. In November 2024, opposition parties held national demonstrations in Lilongwe to push for the resignation of MEC Chairperson Anabel Mtalimanja and Chief Elections Officer Andrew Mpesi.
