Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Centre for Development of People (Cedep) have observed with alarm a series of developments that may potentially thwart the progress of the country’s democracy as well as enjoyment of human rights by Malawian citizens.
We have, for instance, learnt with shock the return of political terror under the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regime which is reminiscent of the shrinking political space during the period spanning 2009-2012 where the parading of Panga knives in the streets of Blantyre by DPP youth cadets was the order of the day.
Till to date no one has been held accountable on this. Nevertheless, Malawians thought that this “militant” behavior was a thing of the past especially after the sweet promises of a transformed DPP government.
However, if recent developments in Mzuzu and Chitipa are anything to go by, then the assertions that DPP has changed is nothing but mere rhetoric. Within few days, we have read media reports of DPP members assaulting an innocent citizen in Mzuzu; attempting to disrupt Peoples Party (PP) political rally in Chitipa and damaging business property of citizens perceived to be supporters of opposition political parties in Limbe, Blantyre.
Informed by these sad and retrogressive developments, we at CHRR and Cedep strongly condemn the behavior by the DPP. Such kind of barbaric conducts have no place in a modern Malawi where human rights for all ought to be respected and protected every single day. We, at CHRR and Cedep, are however, not unmindful of the naked fact that the terror DPP members have recently resorted to could be part of ill-advised tactics by the ruling party to silence critical voices in light of the serious economic and political challenges the country is currently facing. Or, should we safely assert that this is just one of the many public attention-diversion brainchilds by the President Prof. Peter Mutharika government machinery? We wonder, and sadly, so. More disturbing is DPP’s leadership failure to condemn this unbecoming behavior by its membership but instead resolving to shifting the blame on other political parties without providing any substantive evidence to prove to the contrary.
Otherwise, what the DPP officials need to know is that whatever this terror being visited upon innocent citizens intends to achieve can surely not bode well with the democracy gains the country has registered. It’s a big minus. No one deserves to be persecuted on political grounds.
In the same vein, we, at CHRR and Cedep, are depressed at the rising number of industrial strikes in the country. Right now, ACB, Parliament, Malawi College of Medicine, Chancellor College, Mzuzu University among others have closed shop pending improved conditions from government. The recent sealing of ACB offices by APM’s regime is another disaster –the worst expected of his administration. The sealing of ACB also confirms the executive’s continued interference into the independence of ACB a scenario that does not give any hope in as far as the national crusade to curb corruption is concerned. This is regrettable. Already there are fears that this “sealing exercise”, as APM’s sole tactic to resolving the strikes, shall be extended to the judiciary and any potential grouping who may resolve to strikes as a way of bringing their grievances to the attention of the regime. You don’t just cripple constitutional bordies like that and claim that your government is committed to fighting graft, corruption and also ensure that there is access to justice for all. This is pure hypocricy, and in fact “hypocricy of the highest order”, that is, if we were to borrow Timothy Mtambo’s branding of Mutharika four weeks ago [in an interview with Nyasa Times].
What’s even more saddening is that the President is yet to step up to address the aggrieved parties on the feud. By failing to rise above the challenge and bring the striking staff to an understandable compromise, the President is painting a picture that he is failing to be a father-figure in the whole saga. This may also signal a “constructive admission” by the President that he has failed to “govern or rule” in the midst of the crisis a scenario that does not speak well about his leadership style.
We at CHRR and Cedep, therefore, call upon the President to priortise ending these strikes as a matter of urgency. Otherwise, the real victims of these strikes are the innocent citizens whose rights are being violated. Mutharika’s continued silence on these matters is not helping matters at all but rather aggravating the already tense situation, and in the process rendering his claims of being a “caring father” as mere rhetoric. It’s a fact that Malawi is in a crisis, requiring concerted efforts from the Civil Society, Media, Private Sector, government and all. However, in such collaborative efforts, the expectation is for government to take the leading role and demonstrate mature leadership by being seen to be on top of the issues. This is not the case in the current scenario.
It’s as if Malawi has no President. Its high time President Arthur Peter Mutharika woke up from his slumber and resolve the crisis once and for all lest he loses “the legitimacy to govern”. After all, the constitution of Malawi is very clear that the authority to exercise power of state is conditional upon the sustained trust of the people of Malawi and the trust can only be maintained through open, accountable and transparent Government and informed democratic choice”
In a related development, as clearly spelt out in our joint press briefing with MANERELA, MANET + and MEHN last week that apart from bringing NACGATE concerns to the attention of the current regime, the 13th January 2015 national demonstrations will also include all other current challenges both on the political, economic, governance and human rights including government’s continued failure to resolve strike concerns. These peaceful demonstrations will be staged in all the regions: Northern Region, Central Region, Eastern Region and Southern Region. We therefore call upon all the citizens to patronize these demonstrations as one of the ways in demanding concrete action and solutions on the prevailing concerns from the government. VIVA DEMOCRACY!!! VIVA HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL!!!
