Under Section 38 of the 1994 Constitution of the Republic of Malawi: “Every person shall have the right to assemble and demonstrate with others peacefully and unarmed.”
The constitution is so clear on this and provide even the way how these demonstrations should be conducted.
However of late we have seen demonstrations turning violent where by there have been heavy fighting between the law enforcement agencies and the demonstrators.
Like the demonstrations on Wednesday were one of a kind. Spot checks in Lilongwe found participants with machetes, heavy metal bars and stones, which is contrary to the law.
This has, unfortunately, brought fear among Malawians to think that demonstrations is about violence.
These demonstrations have been having negative impact on both small small and large scale business.
As if that is not enough, Malawians have been failing to go to their work place due to these demonstration.
For example there are strong reports going around indicating that some business men are sponsoring the current organisers of the demonstrations.
Despite court order some demonstrators with evil mind have been causing havoc and mayhem demanding to proceed with the demonstrations despite court order.
The good news is that the planned demonstration organised today in Lilongwe technically have failed to take off following a High Court injunction, stopping the organisers from going ahead with their plan, granted in the evening on Tuesday evening.
Currently there is heavy security presence as despite the injunction a few people still started assembling at the Lilongwe Community Ground ready for the demonstrations.
A grouping of individuals trading under the banner Human Rights Ambassadors have been planning to hold demos in the capital city against what they are calling selective Administration of justice by the country’s judiciary system.
Among others the grouping is arguing that people from the southern region especially from the Lhomwe belt are being targeted by the judiciary.
But in a turn of events high court Judge granted the injunction to some four concerned citizens pending an inter-parte hearing.
In his restraining order court has observed that there is need for the organizers of the demos to clearly state out who will be held responsible in the event that the demos turn violent and property is destroyed as argued by the claimants.
The judge has also observed that there is need for the clear identity on who is organising the demos.
But despite the High court granting the restraining order business has been affected in the capital city as the order has just been granted few hours before commencement of the planned demos.
A visit around Lilongwe business center this morning has established that the city is deserted an indicator of negative impact of such demonstrations.