End home vigils, Mutharika appeals

Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika has threatened to deal with civil society activist who will continue to urge people to stay-away from working and ordered that a three-day national strike must end.

Speaking on Wednesday on the state-owned MBC television, President Mutharika pointed out that the call for a national strike is illegal.

He said organisers of the stay-away cannot bully him into submission.

"Government can't be taken to ransom by a few disgruntled individuals hiding in the name of civil society," said Mutharika.

Mutharika: Go back to work

" If you stop people from going to work, I will deal with you," threatened the President.

He assured Malawians that the state apparatus will provide maximum security to entrepreneurs who go about their normal activities and workers who will report for work.

"I want you to open your shops tomorrow and nothing will happen to you or your property," Mutharika said.

The civil society groups are protesting what they call poor economic and political governance, deteriorating freedoms, harassment of human rights activist and government critics. They are also protesting against bad laws.

Activists also want President Mutharika to respond to a petition calling on him to account for his wealth, address the chronic fuel and dollar shortages that have added to the misery of the poor and restore diplomatic ties with former colonial master and major aid donor Britain.

Nyasa Times 22 Sep, 2011

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Source: http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2011/09/21/end-home-vigils-mutharika-appeals/
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