Tension Erupts as Taxi Drivers Protest at Mnjiri Bridge in Mzimba

Taxi drivers clash with police at Mnjiri Bridge over roadblock.

At the scene where police denied the tax drivers access to go to Mzimba police station to deliver their petition.

Mzimba, Malawi— Taxi drivers and police clashed at Mnjiri Bridge in Mzimba on Monday as the drivers attempted to deliver a petition demanding the removal of a controversial roadblock, writes Alinafe Sambo.

The Mtambalika roadblock has been criticized by residents and taxi drivers for charging exorbitant fees for passage.

The drivers also alleged that the money collected at the roadblock is not being used for its intended purpose.

In response to the growing tension, police officers at the bridge initially blocked the taxi drivers from accessing the Mzimba Police Station.

However, after a standoff, the police eventually allowed the drivers to proceed and deliver their petition.

The petition was received by the station officer for Mzimba Police, Horace T. Chabuka.

Chabuka told the drivers that the police were not the designated authority to receive the petition, as per the constitution.

Instead, he directed the drivers to approach the district commissioner.

"We did not receive the petition because the constitution stipulates that the office of the president and cabinet, in this case, the office of the DC, is responsible for receiving such petitions," Chabuka clarified.

This incident comes hot on the heels of a recent tragedy where a child lost their life in a vehicle that was detained by Mzimba traffic officers at the same Mtambalika roadblock.

The tension surrounding the controversial roadblock remains a point of concern for both the taxi drivers and the Mzimba community, raising questions about its operation and impact on the local population.

In an interview with AfricaBrief, Mzimba taxi drivers association chairperson Charles Chisi expressed his disappointment with the police response.

"We are disappointed that the police have not taken our concerns seriously," Chisi said.

"We will continue to protest until the roadblock is removed."

It remains to be seen what action will be taken by the district commissioner in response to the petition.

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