Clearly stated at the start of the issue paper “In legitimate exercise of the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi, We being Members of Civil Society, have joined hands with Workers, Faith Communities and Concerned Citizens from all walks of life, to hold peaceful country-wide mass demonstrations today, Wednesday, 20th July 2011, with the theme: “Uniting for Peaceful Resistance Against Poor Economic and Democratic Governance – “A Better Malawi Is Possible”. These demonstrations are part of a series of nation-wide mass actions that will continue to respond to such crises until feasible solutions have been found and implemented.” The day before this peaceful demonstration an ‘injunction’ had been issued in Lilongwe. On the 19th of July DDP supporters were pictured driving around Blantyre with newly purchased ‘Panga Knives’ creating a tense, threatening atmosphere for those who wanted to peacefully march on the 20th July. The objective of the Protest was to pressurise the Government to act on the issues presented in hope for a ‘better Malawi’. Unfortunately some criminal elements took place largely provoked by the opposition Political Parties who took it as an opportunity to hijack the peaceful demonstration. Shops were looted and property damaged, resulting in police conflict. One of the organisers of the Peaceful protest Rafiq Hajat states “We need to make it clear that the Civil Society, were never behind the violence. As one of the organisers of 'A better Malawi is Possible' said 'We deplore it, condemn it wholeheartdly and it is being perpetrated by other groups with vested interests’. On the day of the protest in Malawi the peaceful protesters marched along the streets singing the National Athem growing in numbers along the way. “There was no place to move when we arrived at the Civic Centre to present our Issues Paper and the mood was noisy but good natured as we handed over the document to the Head Administration of the Bt City Assembly. Having perform our duty, witnessed by a huge crowd, we implored everyone to return home peacefully and without provocation.” The violence, looting of shops, shooting and conflict continued into the night. People scared to leave their houses as cars were being stoned, gun shots fired, people beaten up.