Paramount Chief Kyungu of Karonga and Chitipa has rejected planned demonstrations by the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) over the Karonga–Chiweta M1 Road, warning against a repeat of the destruction that followed protests in the district in 2019.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ media engagement in Karonga on Wednesday, Kyungu said HRDC should abandon plans to shut down the road on July 1 and instead engage government through dialogue.
The paramount chief said residents were still recovering from damage caused during the 2019 demonstrations, which damaged public infrastructure and disrupted normal activities in the district.
“We say no to violent demonstrations whose scars are still fresh in Karonga. They destroyed our offices and public property in 2019. Therefore, HRDC should resort to contact and dialogue with government, which has already responded positively,” he said.
Kyungu said shutting down the M1 would hurt economic activity and disrupt trade along one of Malawi’s most important transport corridors.
“Any road shutdown will cripple the country’s economy and affect geopolitical relations. What we want is a peaceful process that will see the construction of a durable road,” he said.
He said communities urgently need the road rehabilitated but argued that demonstrations were not the right solution and risked causing further disruption.
Senior Chief Karonga also questioned HRDC’s approach, accusing the coalition of remaining silent on the road’s deteriorating condition for years before calling for demonstrations.
Meanwhile, Karonga District CSO Network chairperson Edgar Phiri said local civil society organisations and other stakeholders from Karonga, Chitipa, and Rumphi districts would not participate in the planned protests.
“The advocacy strategy is peaceful and promotes contact and dialogue,” Phiri said.
He said stakeholders had sought meetings with the Minister of Transport and Public Works, the Roads Authority, and the Roads Fund Administration to discuss progress on rehabilitation works.
According to Phiri, the meetings are expected to take place in early July and will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to seek updates directly from government and road authorities.
HRDC plans to shut down the Karonga–Chiweta section of the M1 Road from July 1 to pressure the government to accelerate rehabilitation works on the route.
The road is a key link between Malawi and Tanzania and remains an important corridor for trade and the movement of goods in the northern region.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ media engagement in Karonga on Wednesday, Kyungu said HRDC should abandon plans to shut down the road on July 1 and instead engage government through dialogue.
The paramount chief said residents were still recovering from damage caused during the 2019 demonstrations, which damaged public infrastructure and disrupted normal activities in the district.
“We say no to violent demonstrations whose scars are still fresh in Karonga. They destroyed our offices and public property in 2019. Therefore, HRDC should resort to contact and dialogue with government, which has already responded positively,” he said.
Kyungu said shutting down the M1 would hurt economic activity and disrupt trade along one of Malawi’s most important transport corridors.
“Any road shutdown will cripple the country’s economy and affect geopolitical relations. What we want is a peaceful process that will see the construction of a durable road,” he said.
He said communities urgently need the road rehabilitated but argued that demonstrations were not the right solution and risked causing further disruption.
Senior Chief Karonga also questioned HRDC’s approach, accusing the coalition of remaining silent on the road’s deteriorating condition for years before calling for demonstrations.
Meanwhile, Karonga District CSO Network chairperson Edgar Phiri said local civil society organisations and other stakeholders from Karonga, Chitipa, and Rumphi districts would not participate in the planned protests.
“The advocacy strategy is peaceful and promotes contact and dialogue,” Phiri said.
He said stakeholders had sought meetings with the Minister of Transport and Public Works, the Roads Authority, and the Roads Fund Administration to discuss progress on rehabilitation works.
According to Phiri, the meetings are expected to take place in early July and will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to seek updates directly from government and road authorities.
HRDC plans to shut down the Karonga–Chiweta section of the M1 Road from July 1 to pressure the government to accelerate rehabilitation works on the route.
The road is a key link between Malawi and Tanzania and remains an important corridor for trade and the movement of goods in the northern region.
