The British High Commissioner His Excellency Mr. Micheal Nevin, reacted insensitively to the grief feelings of local citizens and undiplomatically. He must withdraw and apologize to the citizenry on the Reparation or compensation claims made by many aggrieved Malawians who were brutally killed or massacred mercilessly by the British troops in 1958.
He appears to have wrong feelings with either the people of Malawi or the leadership, for reasons which ought to be properly clarified. It would have been much befitting if only he had simply said, the request will be fully responded after thoroughly consulted the British Authorities than out rightly said its non-pursuable or out of question.
I would suspect that our British High Commissioner did deliberately ignoring the historical perspectives of the issue which resulted in the killings of many innocent and unarmed people whose crime was to demand an immediate and unconditional release of their leaders arrested in 1958 in Nkhata Bay but tragically ended brutally with the largest killings of 31 people, declaration of state emergency by the then Governor General of Nyasaland in Zomba, Sir Robert Ammirtage which also killed many innocent people during the State of Emergency in Machinga then Kasupe, Karonga, Blantyre, Thyolo and Mchinji.
Justice Devlin to came to Nyasaland to make enquiry on the killings which was commissioned by Her Majesty the Queen of England. The Devlin Commission Report was presented to the House of Lords and The House of Commons levelled squarely the blame on the British Govt. It was clear that the British Govt error! This is quite contrary to the statement of the British High Commissioner. In addition, for historical records, The Devlin Report drew high uproar and concern especially by Labour Party MPs led by its Leader MP who took to task the then Prime Minister, William McMillan and Lloyd Boyd, Secretary for Colonial Office. A demand to say SORRY to the people of Nyasaland was very loudly heard. Fellow Malawians should be further informed that there were other Conservatives who defended the decision or move taken by the British in killing innocent people by calling it a Rebellion who many moderate groups strongly opposed to the undemocratic sentiments.
Owing to the growing discontents, Her Majesty, the Queen, Commissioned another Monckton Enquiry in 1960 which shared findings of the Devlin Enquiry and recommended giving this country ‘Self Rule’ and the 1961 Lancaster Meeting with the Late Kamuzu Banda and other freedom fighters followed and successfully resolved to give this country what was demanded which brought the fruits of a Republican Status. Sir Glyn Jones facilitated that transition after he succeeded as last Governor General of Nyasaland.
It is therefore very worrying to all Malawians to hear the statements of the current British High Commissioner as regards to the honest demand from the British Govt.
I would beg to differ sharply with my eminent mentor Dr D. D Phiri who is quoted in one of the local radios that the British Govt should not compensate the affected Malawians because British Government is the major donor and is helping the nation in many ways which I agreed but that does not mean they have no moral obligation to compensate the affected citizens. NO! On Human Rights perspective the British Govt, according to the ROME Convention, committed atrocities and crimes against humanity. If a Malawi Government vehicle kills an innocent pedestrian, is the Govt obliged in any way not to compensate the victim just because it is the innocent person goes to Govt schools, hospitals etc.? Not at all!!!
I applaud the proponents like MCP President Dr Lazarus Chakwera, Ralph Mhone, MP and other T/As of Nkhata Bay. Am very confident our President, Prof Arthur Peter Mutharika will surely strive meeting expectations of the victims of 3rd March 1958 and State of Emergency including all over 2000 people detained without trial.
Let me further suggest that His Excellency Prof APM as a way of putting historical records straight by facilitating a conference to discuss and put the right shape of the demand for the compensation. It will be most constructive and beneficial to bring historians like Prof Kings Phiri, Prof Chijere Chirwa and others who can reflect the work of Prof James McCracken, History lecturer at Chancellor College who authored many history articles and books about Malawi before and after 1891 to many years of our country.
The Minister of Local Govt should call for all District Commissioners in every district to provide names of those who killed during the State of Emergency including those jailed without trial and support the demand on Reparation and or compensation.
This should will send a strong message to the British envoy not frustrate this noble cause of the people of Malawi. The British High Commissioner is a highly respected and honoured envoy who represents the people of both nations in an orderly manner than what we experienced under his stay during the infamous cash gate saga and how it was handled. Malawians and all members of the Cabs like the US, EU etc. let alone Auditor General, ACB, FIU, local media, Opposition, CSO/NGOs involvement in drawing ToRs for the forensic audit for transparency purposes in order to equip citizenry have required capacity to prevent economic plunder but sadly was done single handily. More questions remain unanswered because of the decision to withdraw donor support to the country.
We suspected that His Excellency Mr Michael Nevin has a hidden agenda against the citizenry and it for this reason it will be very proper and ideal the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. George Chaponda call the British envoy clarify more including the current issue Malawians demand.
By Billy Katimba Banda (Malawi Watch Executive Director)
