Malawians in the three major cities marched in the first major protests against President Joyce Banda’s painful economic reforms.

Heavily armed police in riot gear cordoned off streets  to ensure peaceful demonstration and avoid the 2011 protests that left 20 people dead.

In Blantyre marchers chanted anti – government songs, waved banners slamming Banda for not being assertive enough in addressing the country’s economic problems and presented a seven-point petition to local authorities.

In the capital Lilongwe, the demonstrations were stopped by police because of the… ( Read on! )