Demo organisers doge criticism, stick on plan

Organisers of the January 17 demonstrations say they are not shaken by the stand taken by some civil rights activists, who are not in favour of their plan.

Some Civic society leaders, including Rafiq Hajat head of Institute for Policy Interaction and Billy Banda of Malawi Watch, have told Capital fm that they have reservations on the whole purpose of staging the protests.

They are advising the organizers to engage the government in dialogue to discuss their concerns and find a possible way forward.

However, the organizers have ruled out the possibility of dialogue arguing President Joyce Banda should just tackle the issues raised in their six point plan.

In the petition, they are demanding an immediate stop to the floatation of the kwacha, a freeze in foreign and local travel of the executive arm of the government and the trimming of the cabinet among other conditions.

The refusal for dialogue has been described by civil society leaders including senior government officials as a sign that the demonstrations are being organised for sinister motives.

However, the organising committee’s spokesperson, Kingsley Mabalani told Capital fm that the committee will respect the dissenting views, but will not be discouraged in their quest of pushing for better living

Call for patience

President Banda has however again pleaded with Malawians for patience saying she is doing all she can to sort out the challenges people are facing.

Speaking on ZBS today, Banda says she was aware of the challenges Malawians were facing but should be given more time to sort things out.

She says demonstrations have never been a solution adding that the people should judge her based on what she has managed to achieve so far.

For instance Banda says during the festive season in the past years’ people have had no fuel which is not the case this year.

She says she can never stop people from going into the streets as the constitution does not provide her with such rights though she feels dialogue is the only solution in case of any disagreements.