By Taonga Sabola & Pemphero Malimba:
Two demonstrations planned against the government for today and August 12 have been called off by their organisers after reaching an understanding with authorities that relevant issues are being addressed.
A group named Malawi First, led by activist Bon Kalindo, was expected to protest today over the tax stamps issue.
Unemployed primary school teachers had also planned to demonstrate on August 12 to pressure the government into providing them with jobs, having remained unemployed for several years since their graduation.
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Following a meeting between Malawi First leaders, small-scale businesses and the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) Wednesday, the parties agreed to call off the protests.
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Briefing reporters in Lilongwe Wednesday afternoon, MRA Head of Corporate Affairs Steven Kapoloma and Kalindo said they had cordial discussions on the matter.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the three parties acknowledged smuggling as a big problem affecting small businesses and public health due to the consumption of smuggled, hazardous and counterfeit products.
“The meeting agreed that all small businesses under the simplified trade regime will be allowed to affix tax stamps only until all administrative concerns have been addressed by MRA.
“A meeting will be convened between the Ministry of Finance and all concerned parties to discuss policy issues related to tax stamp implementation,” the communiqué reads.
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Kalindo praised MRA for initiating the dialogue and expressed his group’s anticipation of a meeting with the Ministry of Finance to further discuss the issue.
However, he insisted that they will proceed with the Blantyre demonstrations today regarding issues of national identity cards, which he is accusing the National Registration Bureau of failing to manage, and purported political arrests.
Regarding the unemployed teachers, their representatives had written to district councils across the country about the planned demonstrations to express frustration over the Ministry of Education’s continued use of auxiliary recruitment.
The teachers’ spokesperson Cornelius Mwalure told The Daily Times yesterday that a consensus to call off the protests was reached after meeting with ministry officials.
“The ministry advised us to be patient as they are planning a new recruitment process in four months,” Mwalure said.
Among other concerns, the teachers sought the ministry to consider scrapping the auxiliary programme, provide a timeline for teacher recruitment and synchronise dates for interviews and the release of results.
At least 13,000 teachers from Initial Primary Teacher Education 14, 15, 16 and 17 are still awaiting employment by the government.
