It is disheartening that the Tonse Alliance administration has resorted to arresting nationwide demonstrations’ organisers including Chisa Mbele and 31 other protesters. This is totally against our constitutional right to assemble and to freely stage demonstrations. It smacks of autocratic regime when freedoms of speech, assembly, and expression are muzzled.
It is interesting to note that the genesis of 1789 revolution emanated from mismanagement of such political unrest by the then government. In fact, King Louis XIV had grown so powerful and autocratic such that he once uttered , “State? It’s me”. Such unfortunate expressions are not alien to our political history even Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda coerced people to sing praises to him, “Zonse zimene nza Kamuzu Banda” insinuating that Kamuzu owned everything including all freedoms and rights. Is history repeating itself now in Malawi?
The arrest of human rights activists by the Chakwera regime is an insult to our constitutional and democratic values for which some of us fought with a sense of patriotism and zeal. Of course, this country is a Constitutional Republic and does not belong to President Chakwera and his machinery alone such that they have the audacity to arrest demonstrators who are only exercising their constitutional rights.
President Chakwera and his sycophants must be aware that they are enjoying these delicacies of power through the same nationwide demonstrations which intimidated the judges to nullify the 2019 presidential elections. It was reasonable to label the judgement on the presidential case as a judicial coup because the court admitted that there was no evidence of rigging and also that the embattled electoral irregularities did not affect the number of votes of any presidential candidate. And yet the constitutional court went ahead to nullify the 2019 presidential elections.
President Chakwera’s regime must be aware that arresting political activists will not assist matters as it may just escalate the situation into further massive nationwide demonstrations because namfedwa samuletsa kulira. It is the people of Malawi who are feeling the pinch of the Chakwera’s maladministration. They are unstoppable.
Just a flashback. During the 1789 French Revolution, instead of addressing the pertinent issues that sparked the unrest, King Louis XIV also arrested the protesters and unashamedly sacked his Finance Minister, Necker, who had proposed a tax system reform that would promote equality and equity. As a consequence, massive pressure on King Louis XIV followed.
The king was subsequently forced to call for Estate General meeting to address the economic meltdown. However, the local citizens had vowed not to relent on their grievances till the Constitution for France was established on firm foundation.
As the King became more and more repressive just as it is happening here in Malawi, local citizens started fearing that King Louis XIV would overturn the revolution by force and that their safety was at risk. This was a recipe for further unrest. And indeed on 14th July 1789, armed with guns and ammunitions, citizens raided the home of old and retired soldiers. They even went ahead to free prisoners at the Bastille prison.
The positive side of the French Revolution is that it culminated into abolition of discriminatory feudal rights and privileges. And in August 1789, the National Assembly adopted the declaration of the Rights of man and citizen which the King was forced again to honor.
Even though King Louis XIV had agreed to the Declaration of rights, on the very same night, the Palace was invaded by the protesters, some guards were killed and the Queen’s bedroom was broken into.
Smelling the danger of their life, on a Monday night 20th June 1791, the royal family made their escape from Paris in a disguised borrowed carriage. After traveling for about 50 kilometres, the local citizens recognized them, the royal family was stopped and forced to go back to Palace.
In December 1792, King Louis XIV was put on trial by the National Convention for various crimes including reestablishing a tyranny. In Malawi, it is sad that Chakwera’s government is taking us many steps backwards by arresting human rights activists. This may likely backfire.
On 21 January 1793, King Louis XIV was taken out to be executed by guillotine. Once again, he behaved with great dignity and tried to address the people. It was too late for him. His head was cut off and held up for all people to see. The crowd later cheered wildly, “Long live the nation, Long live the Republic “
Way forward
We can learn something from history as most of the times, it repeats itself.
1) Don’t arrest the Human rights activists who organise these demonstrations as this may escalate into further political unrest.
2) It is the duty of the Police to arrest all looters and lawbreakers during the demos. They need to be charged accordingly. But leave the organizers alone.
3) Address the pertinent issues raised by the demonstrators. Arresting demo organisers does not solve the problems Malawians are facing under the Chakwera’s regime.
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Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are those of the author not necessarily of The Maravi Post or Editor
