Agenzia Fides REPORT- “It is difficult for a protest, even a peaceful one, to be held in Malawi. At least for now the silence holds. The organisers of the march were arrested, the bikes have gone back to their villages and the vuvuzela (plastic horns) silenced. The reason remains the same as ever: lack of 'proper procedures'; the permit to protest that is recognised by the city is not approved by the state police, the same people who were given orders to shoot to kill,” Fides was told by Father Piergiorgio Gamba, Monfort missionary, who has lived and worked in Malawi for many years.
On 14 February, the “Big Bicycle March on the Fuel Crisis” had been organised in the capital, Lilongwe, to protest against fuel shortages in the Country. The demonstrators had intended to march on bicycle in front of the Parliament and Government headquarters with whistles and vuvuzela. The police blocked the demonstration and arrested several organisers of the protest.
“To have organised a demonstration, albeit unsuccessful, is already a good start that will increase awareness of the Country's current situation, which seems to have been taken back in time by the current political administration, fortified by an election victory that gave them absolute majority in Parliament. In this way, we also learn the value of voting and political participation, which remains the primary task of every citizen,” said the missionary.
“If the invitation of the Bishops of Malawi to read the signs of the times is valid, this could be the time that responds to a political and social situation almost in decay,” says Fr Gamba. “There is no fuel in the Country. Despite the increase in prices that makes a litre of gasoline 1.3 euros, you can not buy it. Trade, transportation and even basic necessities are no longer assured. The lack of foreign currency to secure imports, a refrain that has virtually shut down several small industries in the Country, is resulting in the exponential growth of chronic unemployment. There are also laws that restrict freedom of information, others that the local courts re-introduce, that conjure up the horrors and killings during the 30 years of dictatorship.” These are all symptoms that preoccupy and contribute to creating a climate, not seen throughout the years of democracy, reaffirmed in Malawi in 1994, concludes the missionary.
On 14 February, the “Big Bicycle March on the Fuel Crisis” had been organised in the capital, Lilongwe, to protest against fuel shortages in the Country. The demonstrators had intended to march on bicycle in front of the Parliament and Government headquarters with whistles and vuvuzela. The police blocked the demonstration and arrested several organisers of the protest.
“To have organised a demonstration, albeit unsuccessful, is already a good start that will increase awareness of the Country's current situation, which seems to have been taken back in time by the current political administration, fortified by an election victory that gave them absolute majority in Parliament. In this way, we also learn the value of voting and political participation, which remains the primary task of every citizen,” said the missionary.
“If the invitation of the Bishops of Malawi to read the signs of the times is valid, this could be the time that responds to a political and social situation almost in decay,” says Fr Gamba. “There is no fuel in the Country. Despite the increase in prices that makes a litre of gasoline 1.3 euros, you can not buy it. Trade, transportation and even basic necessities are no longer assured. The lack of foreign currency to secure imports, a refrain that has virtually shut down several small industries in the Country, is resulting in the exponential growth of chronic unemployment. There are also laws that restrict freedom of information, others that the local courts re-introduce, that conjure up the horrors and killings during the 30 years of dictatorship.” These are all symptoms that preoccupy and contribute to creating a climate, not seen throughout the years of democracy, reaffirmed in Malawi in 1994, concludes the missionary.
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