HRDC dares police IG on anti-Ansah demonstrations

Despite a request by the Malawi Police Service (MPS) to stop convening demonstrations, the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) says it will hold a march dubbed ‘One million march’ in the country’s cities.

Inspector General of Police Rodney Jose recently wrote the HRDC to stop convening protests until at a time he has delineated as possible to convene and hold peaceful demonstrations in the country.

But addressing members of the press in Lilongwe, HRDC Vice Chairperson Gift Trapence said the coalition will hold mass demonstrations on August 6, calling for the resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Justice Jane Ansah.

“We want one million marchers in Blantyre, one million marchers in Lilongwe, and one million marchers in Mzuzu, so this is one of the biggest demonstrations that we would want to see in the history of the country,” said Trapence.

He also faulted the police chief for writing the coalition a letter, citing that the letter could have been addressed to the State President as a responsible authority.

“Our message to the IG is that-that letter was written to a wrong entity, the Police IG was supposed to send the letter to the President or to the appointing authority because he is the one who can end the challenges or the capacity issues that the police is facing,” said Trapence.

However, the police has pledged to  provide security to both people and property during demonstrations.