By Burnett Munthali
Sylvester Namiwa, the leader of the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI), has confirmed that the ongoing protests in Lilongwe will continue today. The protests, organized by CDEDI, aim to address pressing issues concerning the country’s energy crisis and electoral system.
Lawford Palani, the Mayor of Lilongwe, has instructed the organizing group to alter the planned protest schedule after the police raised concerns about security. The police emphasized that they had not been notified in advance and thus could not ensure adequate security for the protesters.
Namiwa told reporters that the organizers followed proper procedures for notifying the relevant authorities about the protests and that there had been no official prohibition against the demonstrations. He further emphasized that the protesters would peacefully express their concerns without resorting to violence.
The protests are being held in response to the ongoing energy crisis in Malawi. CDEDI is calling for the resignation of Ibrahim Matola, the Minister of Energy, and Henry Kachaje, the head of the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA), accusing them of failing to address the country’s severe fuel shortages. The protestors argue that these leaders should step down for their inability to resolve the ongoing fuel scarcity issues, which have affected daily life across the nation.
In addition to the energy sector grievances, the protesters are demanding that the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) suspend the registration of voters and stop using equipment from Smartmatic, a company associated with the election process. They argue that the electoral commission’s involvement with the company compromises the integrity of the electoral process.
The protests have drawn widespread attention, with many Malawians joining the call for greater accountability from the government and its institutions. As the demonstrations continue, the focus remains on pressuring the government to take meaningful action on the energy crisis and to ensure that the electoral process is transparent and fair.
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