Anti-Ashok Nair Demos On Tomorrow

Organizers of pro-Martha Chizuma demonstrations have said the protests will proceed as planned even though Lilongwe City Council (LCC) has withdrawn the permission it granted earlier to the Citizens Against Impunity and corruption.

Yesterday, Chief Executive Officer for LCC Lawford Polani announced  the cancellation of the demonstrations in a letter dated February 2022 saying the matter being protested is in court.

Reacting to the matter Sylvester Ayuba James, one of the demonstrations organizers said the council does not have mandate to either grant or deny permission for citizens to demonstrate because it is the populace’s constitutional right.

According to Ayuba Jame, they will go on and demonstrate as planned while describing the decision by Palani to cancel the demos as baseless.

“We will throw the letter into a dusti bin and proceed with the demonstrations. We are not going to consider any contents of the letter,” said Ayuba James.

Concurring with Ayuba James, Ken Msonda also said that District Commissioner, Dr. Lawford Palani has no powers to stop the protests.

He added that they will go ahead with their plans and even use the route the Council is against that passes through Lilongwe Old Town.

The Citizens Against Impunity and Corruption are demonstrating against Ashok Nair’s decision to sue Chizuma for alleged defamation in a leaked phone call conversation.

According to the citizens the move is deliberate so as to frustrate Chizuma’s efforts in curbing corruption.