Malawi Police officers equal number of protesters in Customary Land bill demos

Malawi Police officers equaled the number of protesters in the Customary Land bill protests in Lilongwe.

There were 30 protesters against 31 police officers who peacefully escorted the protesters, led by Billy Mayaya, from Area 18 Round About to Civic offices after Police gave Mayaya a green light to go ahead with it.

The law enforcers had easrlier said they did not have enough officers to escort and protect the staff because of other security engagements.

The protests coincided with another of students from Kamuzu Central Hospital which riot police crashed without much problems.

Mayaya has been holding numerous demonstrations in the city but not many have been participating in the demonstrations.

However, despite the low turn up, Mayaya and his few colleagues managed to deliver a petition to Lilongwe City Council Civic offices.

Director of Administration Dyson Milanzi received the petition on behalf of LCC Chief executive.

“We are of the view that customary land bill has been introduced to mask the fact that it is simply a term to that will eventually remove customary land as a category of land in the near future,” said Mayaya while reading a prepared petition.

Mayaya said the bill does not address the issues in Thyolo and Mulanje where which stems from the colonial period.

Milanzi did not say anything as tradition soon after receiving the petition.

Most Malawians have welcomed the land bill saying it will help to empower poor Malawians to own land as asset.

The largest CSOs grouping Landnet has also backed the bill.

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