Police in Lilongwe have netted 76 people in relation to violent demonstrations that saw running battles between the law enforcers and protesters on Wednesday.

Lilongwe Police Station Spokesperson Hastings Chigalu told YFM online that most of those apprehended were found looting and engaging in what he called unlawful protests.

He said: “It is true that we have arrested some people who were doing the lawlessness here in Lilongwe, you understand that there is an injunction in place stopping the demonstrations here in Lilongwe.

So some people organised themselves and started burning tyres, blocking the roads and start looting so as police we cannot just stand and watching but we had to come in.”

Chigalu has assured people in the city that heavy presence of Police will be maintained to enforce law and order.

“As of now the situation is under control, but in the morning the situation was volatile but at least now we have arrested 76 people.

We cannot discuss them as protests but at least we can call them looting, lawlessness and unlawful assembly not demonstrations, because there is an injunction in place stopping demonstrations,” Chigalu said.

He added that the suspects will be taken to court very soon and are likely to be charged with a count of inciting violence.

“Some of these have been charged with inciting violence, contempt of court and unlawful assembly, so I can confirm that we have arrested them following the looting and lawlessness that was happening in Lilongwe,” Chigalu said.

According to High Court order for an injunction that was granted earlier on Wednesday the organisers of the demonstrations provide a list of individuals who will personally be held responsible for payment of all damages or theft to the property of the Claimants as a result of the demonstrations, undertake that demonstrations will be peaceful, among other conditions.