Former Malawi Young Pioneers protest over unpaid 1994 dues

There was heavy presence of police at the Capital hill in Lilongwe on Monday as members of the former Malawi young pioneers converged at the Office of the President and Cabinet demanding to meet the authorities following their outstanding grievances on gratuity and pension.

The group comprising 4, 000 members earlier threatened to stage demonstrations today against what they termed as lack of commitment by the government to address their concerns.

Speaking to Capital fm, secretary general of the now defunct group Grey Chisale said they also want the government to address other issues surrounding their leave grants, compensation and Notice Pay.

Chisale said they will remain at the OPC until they meet the authorities who are reportedly rocked in a meeting.

“We have been cheated on for a long time and now we will not leave the gate until our demands are met,” said Chisale.

The Young Pioneer was the paramilitary wing of the Malawi Congress Party when it was in power for 31 years and their commander-In-Chief was the country’s first President Hastings Kamuzu Banda.

The group was disarmed and disbanded in 1993 by officers of the Malawi Defence Force during operation Bwezani.