Thousands of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) followers in Blantyre on Saturday took to the streets to protest against what they termed as ill-will among some Malawians against President Peter Mutharika who is returning from the United States of America on Sunday.
In an interview during the protests, DPP Southern Regional Governor Charles Mchacha said the party had lived through hell as it read false posts on social media and other media outlets alleging that Mutharika was seriously sick abroad.
He said while they appreciate that people have the right to exercise their freedom of speech, they should be aware of the limits.
He said it was for that reason that the party decided to petition all those who were faking Mutharika’s illness and death.
“The purpose of the petition is that, as everybody knows, the president has been outside the country to attend the United Nations General Assembly, but social media and other media outlets have been speaking nonsense and the DPP is not happy with it. So, today we submitted the petition to show our grievances. We want the social media and all ill-intentioned Malawians to respect our president,” he said.
The petition, which was signed by Mchacha, was submitted to Blantyre District Commissioner, Charles Kalemba, for his onward transmission to the Office of the President and Cabinet.
According to Mchacha, they want responsible authorities to take action against people who exceeded the boundaries of exercising their freedom of speech.
One the placards carried during the day read: ‘Apulezident akubwera mawa bodza latha’ [The president is returning tomorrow to put an end to all lies].
The demonstrations started from Sunbird Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre through the Clock Tower to the DC’s office and proceeded to DPP Southern Region offices.
Notable personalities during the demonstrations included former Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Allan Chiyembekeza, former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Tarcizio Gowero and some DPP members of Parliament from the Southern Region.
President Mutharika left Malawi on September 16 to attend the 71 regular session of the UN General Assembly which convened at the UN Headquarters in the US from which he was originally scheduled to return on September 29.
However, the government has been parsimonious with information on his whereabouts, only suggesting that Mutharika was attending to other matters in the US.
Last Sunday, the government issued a press statement in which it warned it would prosecute people who were spreading rumours about the president’s health.
Legal experts, however, have dismissed the threat, saying the law which the government threatened to use infringes on freedom of expression and should be repealed.
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