Opposition members of parliament, led by their leader Lazarus Chakwera walked out parliament on Wednesday after hearing news that irate chiefs were being blocked by police to deliver a petition to the National Assembly
Over 50 chiefs led by People’s Land Organisation (PLO) leader Vincent Wandale organized a peaceful march in the capital Lilongwe against new Customary Land law which will see Malawians paying tax for the land that they inherited from their ancestors.
As the chiefs were about to start the marching from Likuni, Police arrived at the scene and stopped them, saying the marching was illegal.
Due to resistance from some Chiefs, Police fired gunshots in the air and teargas to disperse them from proceeding with the protest.
But this did not yield any results, the chiefs proceeded with peaceful march and the police retaliated by mounting a roadblock near parliament building.
When opposition MPs got the news through Rumphi East MP Kamlepo Kalua that chiefs were being harassed by police, all opposition MPs walked out of the National Assembly to welcome the chiefs.
The development left the Police with no option but to allow the Chiefs to proceed with marching to Parliament.
Reading the petition on behalf of all chiefs, Village Headman Somanda Makata of Blantyre asked MPs to repeal the Customary Land law, saying the law is trying to strip chiefs of their powers.
Speaking after receiving the petition, Chakwera praised the chiefs for taking a bold decision over the matter.
Chakwera promised the chiefs that the lawmakers will do whatever they can to make sure the law is repealed.
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