By Chisomo Phiri
The Centre for Democracy and Economic Initiatives (CDEDI) has canceled the protests it planned to stage to push President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera to establish a commission of inquiry into the plane crash that killed former Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others.
CDEDI executive director Sylvester Namiwa announced the decision to cancel the demonstrations on Sunday, stating that since the president has established a commission to investigate the matter, there is no need to hold the protests that were scheduled for October 29 in Ntcheu and October 30, 2024, in Lilongwe.
Namiwa also accepted his appointment to the commission, stating that his acceptance is intended to represent the public.
“While pledging support to the chairperson of the newly appointed commission, Justice Jabar Alide, and his entire committee, CDEDI wishes to assure the general public that the undersigned’s acceptance to serve on the commission is solely to represent the voiceless and should not be feared as a compromise of the organization’s noble duty,” he said.
Namiwa also stated that CDEDI remains committed to holding the Tonse Alliance government accountable for its actions and failure to act in the best interests of Malawians regarding the tragic accident.
Chilima and eight others died on June 10, 2024, in a plane crash in Viphya Plantations.