Here is what Sam had to say on Lilongwe Chat - an online messageboard we use here... like I said previously, photos speak for themselves, and some awful things have taken place in this otherwise peaceful and stable country in the last 2 days. But likewise, people enjoy exaggerating facts and claiming things as true that definitely are not.
| More options Jul 21, 4:07 pm | |||
After spending the last two hours back and forth in Lilongwe, the situation
has not changed for the worse as THERE IS STILL A LOT OF CALM.
Chilinde, Nchesi, Biwi are all very calm. A lot of people are home and
businesses still closed. Nchesi street (where they sell coffins and
window/door frames) is also very calm and vendors are open for business.
Across the bridge on this side it is still very, very calm. Nothing has been
broken as earlier reported by some people. Only Peoples shop in Kawale is
the only one I saw burnt down to the ground. I have attached pictures of
some of the buildings that were said to have been damaged (I was using a
phone camera so the pix might be poor).
Let me repeat: Chipiku, Game, Shoprite have not been damaged, and so is our
shop, JDS COMPUTER CENTRE and PRINTER SYSTEMs near Chipiku, its ok (so you
can come and buy computers or have them repaired anytime, or come and have
your t-shirts screen printed or embroidered. We will serve you).
As for fuel, NO PETRO STATION OPEN. Don't bother going around.
As for groceries, sorry, you will have to live on left overs tonight J, no
grocery shops open, so are all take away places (mostly because their
workers cant come to work as there is no public transport).
More update will follow if I hear anything contrary, but for now, stay away
from area 25 and Likuni. I hear tension is still high.
There is a higher level of Malawi Army presence in all the streets. This has
helped quite a bit, and I hear they are now going to Area 25 and Likuni to
bring calm there.
Thanks for reading this and let me know if you have any more questions or
concerns
In HIS service Together
Sam Kawale
JDS Investments/E-3 International
P.O. Box 2129
Lilongwe
+265-888-308-798
+265-999-600-345
If your vision does not scare you, then the Lord is not in it.
has not changed for the worse as THERE IS STILL A LOT OF CALM.
Chilinde, Nchesi, Biwi are all very calm. A lot of people are home and
businesses still closed. Nchesi street (where they sell coffins and
window/door frames) is also very calm and vendors are open for business.
Across the bridge on this side it is still very, very calm. Nothing has been
broken as earlier reported by some people. Only Peoples shop in Kawale is
the only one I saw burnt down to the ground. I have attached pictures of
some of the buildings that were said to have been damaged (I was using a
phone camera so the pix might be poor).
Let me repeat: Chipiku, Game, Shoprite have not been damaged, and so is our
shop, JDS COMPUTER CENTRE and PRINTER SYSTEMs near Chipiku, its ok (so you
can come and buy computers or have them repaired anytime, or come and have
your t-shirts screen printed or embroidered. We will serve you).
As for fuel, NO PETRO STATION OPEN. Don't bother going around.
As for groceries, sorry, you will have to live on left overs tonight J, no
grocery shops open, so are all take away places (mostly because their
workers cant come to work as there is no public transport).
More update will follow if I hear anything contrary, but for now, stay away
from area 25 and Likuni. I hear tension is still high.
There is a higher level of Malawi Army presence in all the streets. This has
helped quite a bit, and I hear they are now going to Area 25 and Likuni to
bring calm there.
Thanks for reading this and let me know if you have any more questions or
concerns
In HIS service Together
Sam Kawale
JDS Investments/E-3 International
P.O. Box 2129
Lilongwe
+265-888-308-798
+265-999-600-345
If your vision does not scare you, then the Lord is not in it.
 | deserted Lilongwe bridge.jpg 52K View Download |
 | Deserted Mosque area.jpg 45K View Download |
 | deserted National Bank.jpg 46K View Download |
 | Chilinde, just before traffic lights.jpg 81K View Download |
 | Chipiku stores intact.jpg 58K View Download |
 | deserted Game stores.jpg 55K View Download |
 | Deserted Indian Town.jpg 53K View Download |
 | IMG00039.jpg 54K View Download |
 | JDS Computer Center intact.jpg 45K View Download |
 | road to main bus terminal.jpg 57K View Download |
 | Vendors in Nchesi out for business.jpg 53K View Download |
 | Wulian, Chinese shop not damaged.jpg 57K View Download |
There are still problems in Area 25 and Likuni areas of town but to reiterate - these are not the safest parts of town at the BEST of times, so it's wise to avoid these parts at all costs. As for the rest of town, there is a strong army presence and they are doing what they can to keep the peace. Shops are opening and life is returning to normal.
The violence here throws up much broader discussion on governance and democracy in this country, and for the first time ever in Malawian history, we have made the international news and social media networks are a hive of activity with people who have otherwise not taken an interest in this country, now talking about what is going on. I'm glad things are returning to normal, though with more extreme protests planned again for 17th/20th August, things are far from over.
In other news, the nyasatimes website is now back up and running and the radio stations are once again broadcasting. The government tried it's best to censor the newspapers and radios by taking them offline/ off air, but what a fail! The sheer volume of twitter coverage highlights the pressure we have all put on different organisations leading to much more widespread international media coverage of the protests here.
Hannah
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