By Moses Micheal-Phiri
BLANTYRE, Malawi (AA) – Police on Friday fired tear gas to quell an anti-government protest against deteriorating economic conditions and rising cost of living in Malawi.
Hundreds of people poured onto the streets of the southern commercial hub of Blantyre, calling on President Lazarus Chakwera’s administration to take immediate steps to rein in soaring prices and unemployment.
The protesters set tires on fire and blocked roads to bring traffic to a halt in parts of the city, and also torched a police post in Blantyre’s central business district.
“We want to send a message to Chakwera and his administration that life has become unbearable for most Malawians,” Bon Kalindo, a former parliamentarian who led the protests, told Anadolu Agency.
Chakwera vowed to improve the economy, end corruption, and create 1 million jobs when he came to power after defeating former leader Peter Mutharika in a presidential election re-run in June 2020.
“They have failed to fulfill their promises of easing the suffering of Malawians. The cost of living is too high as prices of essentials, including food and fuel, are soaring.”
Malawi, a country of some 20 million in southeastern Africa, saw its inflation rate climb to 9.8% in October from 8.9% in September.
Food inflation also jumped from 10.9% to 11.8%, according to data from Malawi’s National Statistical Office.
There were also reports of violence during Friday’s protests as a pro-government group came out to deter the protesters.
Edith Kachotsa, a senior police official, told local media that security personnel had to intervene to prevent the situation from further escalating.
However, Kalindo asserted that the threat of violence would not deter his supporters and they will press on with more demonstrations in the capital Lilongwe and other cities in coming weeks.