By Joel Chirwa

Mzuzu, July 21, Mana: The Church and Society of Livingstonia Synod has appealed to government to convene an indaba with families of demonstrators who were killed by police on 20 July 2012 during anti- government demonstrations.

Speaking on Thursday at Zolozolo Cemetery during commemoration prayers for 11 people who were killed during anti-government protests in Mzuzu, Reverend Chipasi Chirwa said the dialogue could facilitate attainment of national reconciliation and healing.

He said the church has spearheaded the initiative of holding annual gatherings to remember the victims and remind the country on the importance of national unity and ensuring that such tragic event should not occur again.

“For the nation to move on there will be need for government to initiate measures that will pave a way towards national reconciliation and healing through dialogue with the bereaved families. There will be need for those in wrong to acknowledge that things went wrong.

“The acknowledgement should also be in form of assisting the families of the victims especially widows and children who are financially struggling following the loss of their breadwinners. Government should ensure that all school going children of the deceased should be put on bursary scheme,” he explained.

In interview with reporters, representative of the bereaved families, Mercy Mbesuma said the compensation they got when they took legal action against the state did not assist much as most of the funds went towards settling legal costs.

“Currently, most of the widows and children of the deceased are struggling to make ends meet. We would like the government to assist the widows with soft loans to start various business ventures and put their children on bursary scheme,” she said.

During the event it was learnt that most of the promises made by government authorities in previous commemorative events like fencing the deceased’s burial places and putting their children on bursary scheme have not been fulfilled.

In response to the concerns raised, Director of National Unity and Peace in the Ministry of Local Government Unity and Culture, Gerald Chigona who represented the Minister, Richard Chimwendo Banda promised to follow up on the said promises.

“On our side we will follow up on those promises. We will write a report and present it to relevant officials who will give us necessary guidance on how we can tackle the concerns raised,” he said.