By Samuel Kalimira , Patience Lunda & Jarson Malowa:
What began as a peaceful stay-away protest by vendors in Mzuzu City Tuesday escalated into violent riots, with demonstrators storming the Central Business District (CBD), where they pelted shops with stones and wreaked havoc.
The unrest led to running battles between protesters and Malawi Police Service officers who were attempting to restore order.
In the morning, second-hand clothes vendors had agreed to keep their shops and stalls closed as a way of forcing President Lazarus Chakwera to intervene in the issue of the rising cost of living.
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One of the vendors, Victor Gama, alleged that their market leaders betrayed them by stopping demonstrations that were scheduled for Tuesday last week.
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“We are not happy with what is happening and when our leaders met with the President last week, we thought something would be done but nothing has been done, which is why we have resorted not to do business as a way of venting our anger on government officials,” Gama said.
As the stay-away continued, people began gathering in different parts of the city, seemingly dissatisfied with what they described as a passive approach by the vendors.
The situation soon escalated into full-scale protests, prompting police officers’ intervention.
Officers deployed water cannons and fired teargas canisters to disperse the rioters—only for the clashes to intensify.
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The use of teargas affected not only protesters but also students in schools around the city, patients at St. John of God and Mzuzu Health Centre, not to mention passersby.
Some students lost consciousness and had to be rushed to Mzuzu Urban Health Centre for medical attention.
During the riots, billboards and mobile money kiosks were vandalised, with other structures being set ablaze.
Meanwhile, police have announced that 10 young people have been arrested during the riots.
Northern Region Police spokesperson Maurice Chapola said the majority of those who were arrested face unlawful assembly charges.
“These are not demonstrations but riots and, so far, we have arrested 10 suspects and more suspects will be arrested. We have charged them with unlawful assembly and they will appear before court soon,” Chapola said.
However, Mzuzu Vendors Chairperson Alexander Sikwese distanced himself from the protests, labelling them “illegal”.
“We presented our grievances to the President and gave ourselves a deadline of April 4 [this year], when we will organise protests if we are not assisted,” Sikwese said.
In Zomba, vendors took to the streets to protest against the rising cost of commodities they sell.
At exactly 9:38am, the vendors started marching from Zomba Stadium on their way to present a petition to the Zomba District Commissioner.
Before the march, their chairperson Ayatu Brown Chidothi advised the protesters to ensure that the demonstrations were peaceful.
Chidothi told The Daily Times that their business had slowed down.
“We, therefore, call for action from the government,” he said.
Business slowed down, with Zomba Central Market, which opens at 6am, remaining closed for over seven hours.
Some of the shops in the city were also closed.
At around 10:30am, activist Bon Kalindo joined the protests at Zomba Zero Point.
