Civil society organisations (CSOs) in the health, HIV and AIDS and human rights sector in general, have learnt with great shock the recent media responses by the Beautify Malawi Trust (BEAMT) and National Aids Commission NAC which have not only exposed contradictions and resurfacing of ‘executive arrogance’ but also how heartless, insensitive and selfish the current regime and the said institutions are in the face of those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS in the country a scenario that puts our national collective efforts towards the reduction of HIV and AIDS for healthy and productive nation in jeopardy.
If these said responses on a very crucial and sensitive matter of not only national interest but also global interest are anything to go by, then Malawians should be scared, very scared as to whether their public HIV AIDS funds and any other health related ones are safe in view of the calibre of characters entrusted to manage and coordinate such funds in the best interest of the nation and public health. The very fact that President Mutharika’s wife Getrude – who happens to be the matron of the BEAMT)- and his advisor on Non-governmental Organisations Mavuto Bamusi – who is supposed to advise the President on the negative implications of using HIV and AIDS funds for unrelated activities like ‘buying dinner tables’ – are engrossed in ‘executive arrogance’ by seeing no ‘evil’ in using HIV and AIDS funds for other unrelated activities should be a source of concern not only to the general public but also to the government and the President in particular especially considering the fact that the two are very close to the President, and often speak the President’s mind.
How can someone in his capacity as Presidential Advisor and board member of BEAMT say the CSOs who are demanding accountability, transparency and truth on NACGATE are jealousy of the First Lady’s BEAMT and informed by partisan interests? If being jealousy of the first lady’s BEAMT is gauged by exposing abuse of the trust’s abuse of funds, then that description ably befits us. Informed by this “jealousy”, we the CSOs will not relent in our efforts in demanding that BEAMT, amongst other undeserving beneficiaries, pays back the money meant for HIV AIDS purposes. Lest be assured we should do this without fear and favour.
More disturbing is President Mutharika and his government [through Ministry of Health) continued silence on this important matter which is doing more harm than good to his government’s image locally and internationally. Why is the President quiet? Does it mean that “NACGATE” saga is of no ultimate concern to his government’s professed efforts towards reduction of HIV and AIDS in the country? Why is the President not condemning the act, and calling for swift independent investigations in the matter? For no doubt the President’s silence on the matter is making a lot of noise, and to a greater extent his silence may be implied as consent to the malpractice. After all, those who often speak his mind have spoken, and if the President had a contrary view he would have come out in the open by now. Silence means consent, they say.
National Aids Commission (NAC) recent clarification on this abuse of funds was another big joke. In its attempt to shield BEAMT trust and Muhlakho wa Ahlomwe from the scandal, the NAC’s executive director signed statement did not only yield contradictions with BEAMT responses but also raised serious questions on the integrity of the institution which is mandated to provided overall leadership and coordination of the national response to HIV and AIDS. NAC denies having granted any money to Beautify Malawi but rather participated in the Beautify Malawi launch activities through buying dinner tables for stakeholders and advertising during the launch.
Ironically, the First Lady Madame Getrude Mutharika’s consents having received the K5, 000, 000 million grant for her BEAM Trust but defends herself of not using any political influence to get the money. What a contradiction! At the same time granted NAC’s defence that it voluntarily participated in BEAMT is anything to go by then the question of procedures and whether such resources were directed to the intended purpose still arise. More insulting is NAC’s defence of release of funds for Mulhakho Wa Lowmwe function as part of its “high level advocacy initiatives”.
How does NAC define “high level advocacy initiatives” for HIV and AIDS? Did we really see any “high level advocacy initiatives”, or even “low level advocacy initiatives, on HIV and AIDS in both functions. If NAC defines “high level advocacy initiatives on HIV and AIDS” as such, then we should all be afraid of entrusting a body whose minimum targets and standards for measuring HIV and AIDS advocacy and impact initiatives are far beyond the public and global expectations. Which budget line did NAC use for these initiatives? NAC statement did not manage to address any of our concerns, if truth be told.
The Way forward
Following the 7 day ultimatum which we issued last week on Thursday demanding BEAM, NIB and Mulhako wa Alhomwe and in cognizant of the fact that none of these have positively responded to the demand, we the Civil Society Organisations working in the health, HIV and AIDS and human rights sector have no choice but to call for a national demonstration on 13th January 2015 as one of the avenues of pressing these bodies pay back the funds, and also ensure that President Mutharika’s regime address this issue as a matter of urgency in the best interest of human rights for all and justice. These scheduled peaceful national demonstrations, apart from expressing NACGATE grievances and calling for swift action on the matter, shall also provide the platform for the citizens to express all the current concerns boldering on economic, political and human rights fronts in the face of a government that has adopted a wait and see or business as usual approach in the midst of these crisis
