By Chancy Namadzunda:
Unconfirmed reports indicate that Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa has been abducted in Lilongwe.
According to the organization’s statement, he has been kidnapped by unknown people along the Mtunthama road, just immediately after holding a press conference in the city of Lilongwe on Wednesday, 27th July 2022, where CDEDI together with the concerned citizens and other stakeholders confirmed and announced their readiness for the nationwide demonstrations.
During the briefing the activists confirmed their planned nationwide demonstrations scheduled for tomorrow.
The protests, among others, are meant to force President Lazarus Chakwera to keep his promise of reducing Presidential powers and also to act on Section 91 (2) of the Constitution — to do away with the provision that protects the country’s President from criminal prosecution.
“These unknown people were travelling using a vehicle without registration plates. The kidnapping of Mr. Namiwa has not come as a surprise, as he has on several occasions this week been pestered by the authorities from Area 30 Police Headquarters in Lilongwe, and the Lilongwe District Council, to attend some meetings whose agenda items were not clearly stated.
“Furthermore, Mr. Namiwa’s kidnapping has reminded all the well-meaning Malawians about how ruthlessness and barbaric the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) is, and has brought back the old memories of darkness, kidnapping, killing and detention without trial.
“Currently, Mr. Namiwa has been taken to an unknown location, and it is not known as to whether he is still alive or not. The police at Area 3 in Lilongwe have been informed about this very unfortunate incident, and it is our hope that they will launch a serious search for the CDEDI Executive Director,” reads part of the statement
Lilongwe Police Station spokesperson Hastings Chigalu told the local media that they have received a report about the incident but could not comment more.
Meanwhile, the CDEDI has encouraged all Malawians of goodwill to patronize the nationwide demonstrations on Thursday 28th July 2022, in order to express their dissatisfaction with the level of insecurity in the country.
