Protesters in Mzuzu City have delivered their petition at the Mzuzu City Council offices, without giving the Government specific period to respond to their demands.
However, one of the organizers Phunziro Mvula warns that if the Government decides not to respond to their demands, they will take necessary steps that will force the Government to respond.
The Social Revolution Movement led concerned citizens in peaceful protests in Mzuzu to push the Government to address the challenges Malawians are facing.
Issues raised in the petition include rising cost of living due to heavy taxes and levies and newly imposed VAT on banking services, failure by the Government to create jobs, failure to uplift farmers and increasing corruption.
Other issues include Government’s hiring of retired personnel at the expense of vibrant youths, continued ill-treatment of teachers, Government’s failure to uplift health and education services, failure by Government in the fight against corruption as evident by the abuse of MK6.2 Billion Covid-19 funds and silence on how MK17.5 Billion Covid-19 funds have been managed.
The petition further points out Government’s failure to fulfill campaign promises, nepotism, creation of new constituencies, which they argue will just put another burden on the already frail and fragile economy and a bloated cabinet and unwanted presidential advisors.
Speaking before delivering the petition, Mvula said leaders should take responsibility and address challenges Malawians are facing, without waiting for citizen protests.
Meanwhile, Mzuzu City Council Spokesperson Macdonald Gondwe who received the petition on behalf of the city’s Chief Executive Officer, has given assurance that the petition will be forwarded to the relevant authorities.
Gondwe has further commended protesters for holding peaceful
