Malawi Police block Land Bill demonstrations

Police in Lilongwe have told organisers of the Monday Land Bill protests to refrain from holding the planned demonstrations arguing that the law enforcers are too engaged to provide security.

The development comes at a time when human rights activist Billy Mayaya organised demonstrations to force President Peter Mutharika not to sign the bill arguing that it will set the country on fire.

Earlier on, Mayaya disclosed that they were to hold the demonstrations despite the police not coming clear to provide security during the march.

“This will not push us back, Police Act demands that we should notify them on any demonstration that has been planned in the country,” said Mayaya.

However, Lilongwe police spokesperson Kingsley Dandaula has told organisers to make a u-turn on the protest on Monday arguing that police officers are “too busy” to provide security.

According to Mayaya, they organised the protests because some sections of society feel the bill should contain a clause which should empower government to take away land snatched by colonialists from locals especially in tea growing areas of Mulanje and Thyolo and give it back to the people.

He also added that the bill has diluted the powers of traditional leaders on land issues, a development that Malawi as a country should not take in the pipeline.