BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s watchdog, Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI), says peaceful demonstrations in Thyolo are on despite the District Commissioner Douglas Moffat’s archaic tactical move to stop the constitutional rights.
In a statement which this publication has seen and signed by CDEDI’s Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa, the peaceful demonstrations will still be conducted, come Thursday, 17th June, 2021, from Khonjeni turnoff, all the way to the district council offices.
“While in Mulanje district, the demonstrations have been shifted to Friday, 18th June, 2021 and the starting point remains Nkhonya,” he says notifying the general public about the slight change for Mulanje district programme.
However Namiwa expresses its disappointment on the conduct by Thyolo, DC Mr. Moffat, who is trying so hard to stop the people of Thyolo district from exercising their right to hold peaceful demonstrations, which is enshrined in the country’s constitution.
In his letter dated June 15, 2021, the DC for Thyolo, Mr. Moffat, has indicated that people from the district had already conducted demonstrations on the same concerns on land issues on 10th June, 2021, and that the matter is in court, among other reasons.
But CDEDI, is of the view that Mr. Moffat is just trying to find an excuse to stop the peaceful demonstrations, a development which is against the principles of democracy.
On the way forward, Namiwa has disclosed that his organisation has engaged the services of legal practitioners from Handford and Associates, to seek the court’s intervention on the matter.
“We are, therefore,assuring the people of Thyolo district, and all Malawians of goodwill, that the peaceful demonstrations shall still take place on June 17, 2021,”
Thyolo DC could not pick up his phone when this reporter tried on several attempts to get his side of the story.
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Angry Thyolo and Mulanje residents are planning to hold demonstration over unresolved land grievances.
This comes after dissatisfied with the lukewarm approach to the land dispute between estate owners and natives, the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) will facilitate demonstrations to force the government to address the grievances of the people of Thyolo and Mulanje over the long-standing issue.
The march is scheduled for this Thursday, June 17, 2021.
In Thyolo, the marchers will start their peaceful demonstration from Khonjeni turnoff to the council offices; while in Mulanje, the protests will start from Nkhonya via Chitakale, to the council offices, where petitions will be delivered.
CDEDI executive director Sylvester Namiwa, in a statement issued on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 said the grouping has noted with great concern that the government has forgotten landless people in the two districts.
Namiwa says the demonstrations are also aimed at bringing to the attention of people that may care to listen, that Malawi is currently under land colonization since most of the land, including all the prime land, is in the hands of foreign nationals.
He adds that Thyolo and Mulanje are just a pointer to a land crisis in the country.
“Although Malawi received her independence from the British colonialists in 1964, the people of Thyolo and Mulanje districts have been under the yoke of colonization ever since, following the failure by all the six heads of state that have ruled the country, to correct the systematic error on the oppressive land laws and regulations inherited from the British, which were craftily drafted to protect the selfish interests of the oppressors. As you are reading this, the people of Thyolo and Mulanje districts are living in fear, and are more or less like half human beings, since the only fundamental natural resource that sustains life, was violently grabbed from their ancestors at gun point by the white settlers from Britain. We cannot begin to talk of basic rights to life and economic activities without tackling land issues!” reads part of the letter.
Namiwa alleges that some estate owners have resorted to sponsoring the Malawi Police Service (MPs) through the Blantyre, Thyolo, Luchenza and Khonjeni Police establishments, to skin alive innocent and unarmed citizens who are organized in groups, in an effort to make their voices heard, with the belief that this error could be corrected, once and for all.
He says scores of people have been injured and have been left with scars after sustaining serious injuries because of merciless beatings by the police while others are serving jail terms due to trumped up charges that were coined to protect the interests of the oppressors.
“Thousands of people are living in fear of the same police, whose mandate is to protect lives and property. Such very sad stories have prompted CDEDI to commence legal proceedings against the perpetrators, in their individual capacities! CDEDI is reminding President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, and his Inspector General of Police, that Malawi is not a police state, hence our demands that the police should immediately stop unwarranted arrests, assault and victimization of the citizens whose only crime is demanding what is rightfully theirs,” says Namiwa in the letter.
CDEDI further condemns incidences of police brutality during the week that has just ended where the police arrested three minors in Mulanje, fired teargas, and assaulted innocent and unarmed people, mostly the elderly at Khonjeni, in Thyolo district.
Meanwhile, the organization has notified District Commissioners (DCs) of the two districts about the peaceful demonstrations in line with the requirement of the laws of Malawi.
CDEDI has appealed to Malawians from within and outside the country to join in the protests in solidarity with the people in Thyolo and Mulanje districts, who are fighting for justice.
Recently, the Minister of Lands Kezzie Msukwa appealed for patience among residents of the two districts, assuring that the government is taking steps to address their grievances.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s social right body Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 expressed worrisome on President Lazarus Chakwera’s helplessness to contain the fight among Tonse administration partners on fuel supply contracts.
The watchdog observes that Tonse partners endless fights will culminate into a fuel crisis in Malawi.
CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa told the news conference in the capital Lilongwe that the matter can be sorted fully by Chakwera whom the grouping says is helpless to contain the fights.
Namiwa observes, “That greed is at the center of it all – the fuel supply saga is as a result of the in-fighting among the Tonse Alliance Partners, who are trying so hard to outclass each other in order to claim hefty commissions from the selected suppliers. President Lazarus Chakwera is helplessly watching the drama, instead of stamping his authority to bring sanity on the matter. For starters, it is only in Malawi where government does not have 100 percent control over fuel supplies.
“Currently, NOCMA is in leadership crisis, hence their lack of capacity to award fresh contracts to fuel suppliers, since the parastatal’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO); the Director of Finance; and the Procurement Officer, are all on suspension, a development that has crippled NOCMA’s operations;NOCMA is playing the role of MERA, since it has bypassed the regulator and has identified fuel suppliers without involving the regulator, a development which is a clear violation of the law;NOCMA is clearly violating the law by publishing the intention to award contracts for fuel supplies in the press, without disclosing the prices of the bids, as per the requirement of the law”.
CDEDI has therefore demanded President Chakwera to show decisive leadership by putting the house at NOCMA in order.
“NOCMA should suspend the current bids since the bid validity expired way back. While the government is sorting out the leadership crisis at NOCMA, the contracts for the previous supplies should be extended in order to avert a looming fuel crisis,” urges Namiwa.
In an separate interview Synab Mitole Healthy Personnel said “If there will be any fuel crisis we have to understand that everything will go up, think of ambulances, think of generators in hospitals, if we let this nonsense continue we will have huge problems”.
Claire Baison Standing for women said “problem is people only look at the cars that are for business forgetting the ones that really matter, we are the ones that carry this burden not them in government, the President must see to this matter that it is taken care of”.
However during the Parliament session Brian Banda said the President will not have a part on this issue as it has left it to be sorted by MERA and NOCMA.
Against this background CDEDI has warned that if there will be any time soon in the country, it will not hesitate but to lead Malawians into nationwide protests, to force president Chakwera to rectify the situation, with the urgency it deserves.
Below is CDEDI statement:
GREED AMONG TONSE ALLIANCE PARTNERS; PRESIDENT CHAKWERA’S ABSENT LEADRESHIP, A CAUSE FOR WORRY AS FUEL CRISIS LOOMS
The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI), just like all well-meaning Malawians, has noted with concern the not so funny jokes the National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA), is dishing out through its endless fights with the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA), over the fuel supply contracts, which in a matter of days will culminate into a fuel crisis.
Right at the onset, CDEDI would like to remind those who may dare to care, that fuel controls the economy, and in fact it’s the only commodity the world over that runs governments, hence any slight crisis means loss of lives in Malawi.
We at CDEDI are of the view that as a country, we have entertained this drama for way too long, and we can no longer continue watching it when we know that anytime we are going to pay with our own lives due to our inability to act.
Having closely followed the matter, CDEDI has established the following;
That greed is at the center of it all – the fuel supply saga is as a result of the in-fighting among the Tonse Alliance Partners, who are trying so hard to outclass each other in order to claim hefty commissions from the selected suppliers;
President Lazarus Chakwera is helplessly watching the drama, instead of stamping his authority to bring sanity on the matter. For starters, it is only in Malawi where government does not have 100 percent control over fuel supplies;
Currently, NOCMA is in leadership crisis, hence their lack of capacity to award fresh contracts to fuel suppliers, since the parastatal’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO); the Director of Finance; and the Procurement Officer, are all on suspension, a development that has crippled NOCMA’s operations;
NOCMA is playing the role of MERA, since it has bypassed the regulator and has identified fuel suppliers without involving the regulator, a development which is a clear violation of the law;
NOCMA is clearly violating the law by publishing the intention to award contracts for fuel supplies in the press, without disclosing the prices of the bids, as per the requirement of the law;
Poorly negotiated deals mean the consumer will bear the consequences through an instant increase in pump prices, a development that automatically pushes up both the cost of living and production, thereby translating into more misery of the already struggling Malawians;
The involvement of politicians in the fuel supplies is not new, as they try so hard to bring in their preferred suppliers. However, it requires the leadership at NOCMA to do due diligence in the ranking of the bidders to ascertain the technical and financial capacity to supply the liquid;
We have evidence in our possession which indicates that the technical and financial capacity of some of the preferred fuel suppliers is questionable, such that they do not qualify to be awarded the contracts. Such underqualified bidders, whose technical and financial capacity is questionable, are the ones NOCMA has selected from the ‘not full bid’ category, thereby putting the country at risk;
It is against this background that CDEDI, on behalf of all well-meaning Malawians, hereby makes the following demands:
President Chakwera should show decisive leadership by putting the house at NOCMA in order;
NOCMA should suspend the current bids since the bid validity expired way back;
While government is sorting out the leadership crisis at NOCMA, the contracts for the previous suppliers should be extended in order to avert a looming fuel crisis;
Should there be any fuel crisis any time soon in the country, CDEDI will not hesitate but to lead Malawians into nationwide protests, to force President Chakwera to rectify the situation, with the urgency it deserves.
Signed by: CDEDI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SYLVESTER NAMIWA
Namiwa presenting petition to Legal Affairs Committee chair Nthenda
By Joana Msamba
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s civil rights group Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) on Tuesday, June 1, 2021 petitioned Malawi Parliament through Legal Affairs Committee to swiftly review process of Malawi’s laws to ensure refugees and asylum seekers are integrated into the society as the matter has consequences to the country’s economy.
The CDEDI disclosed the matter in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Sylvester Namiwa following an observation that there was no proper monitoring of the refugees and asylum seekers who had left Dzaleka Refugee camp to indulge in various economic activities across the towns and cities.
According to CDEDI, refugees and asylum seekers came into Malawi with skills and expertise that have benefited the society and rendering essential services in areas such as health among other sectors.
Nanawia also asked the committee to consider that some foreign nationals who entered into the country as investors have beaten the system and are operating as economic migrants.
Namiwa and concerned Malawians at Parliament Building
He however observes that Marriages are at the verge of disintegration because top government officials and cabinet ministers have married some refugees and asylum seekers and vice versa.
The CDEDI also petitioned the committee to consider the reports of inadequate space at Dzaleka Refugee Camp because asylum seekers and refugees also have rights and dignity as human beings.
The watchdog has however commended the homeland security ministry, for taking a bold decision in line with the country’s existing laws and regulations to ensure all the refugees and asylum seekers return to Dzaleka Refugee Camp.
Receiving CDEDI petition at Parliament building, Legal Affairs committee chairperson Yusuf Nthenda assured of submitting the paper to Speaker office.
Nthenda said that proper procedures will be followed before the petition is tabled to the whole house for deliberation with proper action.
Below is the full CDEDI Petition to Malawi Parliament:
Petition to the Legal Affairs Committee
Parliament of Malawi
June 1, 2021
URGENT CALL FOR THE REVIEW OF LAWS TO CONSIDER INTEGRATION OF REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS IN MALAWI
The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has all along been pushing the government of Malawi to ensure the enforcement of the laws that give guidance as regards the welfare of refugees and asylum seekers in the country. This was after we had observed that there was no proper monitoring of the refugees and asylum seekers, who had left their designated areas, such as Dzaleka Refugee Camp, and were indulging in various economic activities in towns and cities across the country, illegally. CDEDI petitioned President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera on the same matter, and we were invited for roundtable discussions with the Minister of Homeland Security, Hon. Richard Chimwendo-Banda, as well as the minister of trade, on the same.
Right at the onset, CDEDI would like to commend the homeland security ministry, for taking such a bold decision in line with the country’s existing laws and regulations, to ensure that all the refugees and asylum seekers have returned to Dzaleka Refugee Camp. It is our hope that this ultimatum, which has also been validated by the High Court of Malawi, is really being enforced.
However, it is important to point out that the refugees and asylum seekers came to Malawi in search of peace, which they could not find in their own countries and elsewhere! Therefore, we have no one but ourselves to blame, as a country, for allowing these refugees and asylum seekers to leave their designated areas in search of shelter and economic activities outside the refugee camps, all these years!
Government’s ultimatum on the refugees and asylum seekers has unearthed a number of issues that need to be addressed. For instance, we have received numerous cases, especially from Malawian who got married to some of the refugees and asylum seekers, whose marriages have now been disintegrated, and they are seeking advice from CDEDI, hence our request to the Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament, to consider discussing the matter, and see if it is worth being tabled in the national assembly for further debate in order to review the archaic laws governing the refugees and asylum seekers in Malawi.
CDEDI is requesting the committee to consider the following issues, as some of the arguments that can be tabled:
A better chunk of Malawi’s economy is controlled by foreign based business operators, most of whom have no legal permits for such business activities, precisely the refugees and asylum seekers;
Some foreign nationals who entered into the country as investors, have beaten the system and are operating as economic migrants, something which is conveniently ignored and rarely discussed;
Marriages are at the verge of disintegration – CDEDI has received reports where even top government officials and cabinet ministers married some refugees and asylum seekers and vice versa;
Some of the refugees and asylum seekers came into Malawi with skills and expertise that have benefited the society, and are rendering essential services in areas of health, education and social work, among other sectors;
The recent government directive seems to have been craftly narrowed down only to our brothers and sisters from Rwanda and Burundi, fondly called Maburundi, when the rest, i.e. those from Nigeria, Somalia, India, Pakistan, Lebanon and China are deemed off the hook;
Some of those affected by the directive have stayed in Malawi, and outside the refugee camp, for over 25 years, thereby raising the questions as to what the law enforcers have been doing all this time?
It is important to bear in mind that asylum seekers and refugees also have rights and dignity as human beings, therefore, reports of inadequate space at Dzaleka refugee camp ought to be considered;
It is against this background that CDEDI is calling for a review process of Malawi’s laws to ensure that some of these refugees and asylum seekers are integrated into the society, as they have proven to be critical to the social and economic development of our nation, despite their status.
Lastly, but not the least, CDEDI would like to request the speaker of parliament, Right Hon. Catherine Gotani Hara, to ensure that this petition is presented and debated within this sitting of parliament. We find the matter at hand as having far reaching consequences to the country’s economy.
Signed by SYLVESTER NAMIWA, CDEDIEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Namiwa angry with Registrar of Political Parties Chikumbutso Namelo
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s civil rights body Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) is angry with the Registrar of Political Parties Chikumbutso Namelo for shameful attempt to frustrate political parties’ disclosure on financing.
On May 17, 2021, CDEDI wrote the registrar, challenging his office to make available the sources of all private funding to the major political parties in Malawi, in line with the Political Parties Act of 2018; Section 37 of the Republican Constitution; and the Access to Information Act.
CDEDI’s anger comes after Namelo responded by asking the watchdog to furnish him with its registration details as a precondition to making available the information on parties financing.
The organization demanded that this information should be in the form of cash, assets and in kind received as donations within and outside the country.
But Namelo, in his response dated May 19, 2021, also demanded that CDEDI should produce evidence of its registration with the Malawi Government before he could release the information.
“You wrote us as CDEDI and accordingly, I would like to request you to kindly furnish us with your organization’s registration details as we have been unable to find the same in our records. For your information, it is our procedure to verify the registration status of any registered entity before attending to any application or request made by the entity,” demands the Registrar of Political Parties.
“I look forward to receiving evidence of registration of your organization soonest so that I can substantively respond to your letter,” adds Namelo.
But when he addressed journalists in the capital Lilongwe on Friday,May 28, 2021 CDEDI executive director Sylvester Namiwa accused the Registrar of Political Parties of playing some old and archaic tricks in its efforts to ignore their demands for disclosure of information on political party financing.
“Instead of responding to the call, CDEDI regrets to inform Malawians that Mr. Chikumbutso Namelo, who is the current Registrar of Political Parties, responded by asking us to furnish him with our registration details as a precondition to making available the information we are seeking. We find such a response as a mockery to Malawians, total disrespect of the office he is occupying, and a futile attempt to defend the indefensible,” said Namiwa.
He reiterated that disclosure of information declared by political parties as regards party financing is the only sure way of addressing the root cause of deep-rooted corruption in the country, which according to studies, claims 30 percent of the national budget.
But Namiwa said as a law-abiding citizen and non-governmental organization, CDEDI submitted its registration certificate no. 01/251 on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.
“Following this submission, we have extended our ultimatum with two days, and we are expecting positive response from the registrar’s office on or before Monday, May 31, 2021. Should our request hit a blank wall, CDEDI will still proceed to seek legal intervention on our demands, which are enshrined in the country’s constitution,” he said.
CDEDI wants disclosure information on financing from political parties including Malawi Congress Party (MCP), UTM, Democrat Progressive Party (DPP), Peoples Party (PP), AFORD, United Democratic Front (UDF) and among others.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s civil rights body, the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has challenged native small and medium business operators to step up their operations to save the economy from an imminent collapse as refugees and asylum seekers relocate to Dzaleka Refugee Camp.
The human rights watchdog has also asked the Malawi Government to consider integrating some of the refugees and asylum seekers who have proven to be of economic value to the nation.
CDEDI executive director Sylvester Namiwa made the remarks in response to the directive by the Ministry of Homeland Security that the relocation of the fugitives should restart following the lifting of the injunction on Tuesday, May 25, 2021.
Namiwa who addressed news conference in the capital Lilongwe on Wednesday afternoon, May 26, 2021 observed that business nearly came to standstill in most of the suburbs of Lilongwe, Mangochi, Dowa and Blantyre.
“This, unfortunately, tells us that business operations in the country are precisely dominated by foreign based business operators, most of whom have no legal permits for such business activities. Marriages are at the verge of disintegrating – the government directive has unearthed cases of intermarriages, where some refugees and asylum seekers have married our native women and vice versa,” he said.
Namiwa further observed that some of the refugees and asylum seekers came in with skills and expertise that have benefited the society and are rendering essential services in areas of health, education and social work.
He alleged that there has been selective application of justice against fugitives from Rwanda and Burundi, fondly called Maburundi, when those from Nigeria, Somalia, India, Pakistan, Lebanon and China are left scot-free.
“There are concerns of inadequate space at Dzaleka Refugee Camp and it is against this background that CDEDI is calling for a review process of our laws to ensure that some of these refugees and asylum seekers are integrated into the society, as they have proven to be critical to the social and economic development of our nation, despite their status. Most importantly, CDEDI would like to challenge the local business people to up their game in order to fill the gap that has been created due to the relocation exercise of the refugees and asylum seekers to Dzaleka Refugee Campso that consumers should not be punished,” he said.
Meanwhile, confusion has emerged following revelations that there were two injunctions against the government decision to relocate the refugees, with only one lifted.
While Judge Ruth Chinangwa had thrown out an injunction obtained by Elie Umkunzi at the Lilongwe Registry, Judge Mandala Mambulasa is yet to deliver his ruling on another injunction obtained by Abdul Nahimana at the Blantyre Registry.
LILONGWE-(Maravipost)-The country’s civil rights body Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has taken a swipe at some organizations and social commentators who have launched attacks on the members of the Parliamentary Public Affairs Committee (PAC) for rejecting the appointment of Ombudsman Martha Chizuma as the new Director General (DG) of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
CDEDI executive director Sylvester Namiwa argues that attacking and demonizing statutory committees and constitutional offices when some sectors of the society are not happy with the decisions they have made in relation to their mandate and laws governing them and the republican constitution is a breeding ground for dictatorship.
Namiwa adds that attacks and demonizing of PAC and its membership defeats the very same purpose for which it was established and the separation of power.
In a press statement made available to the Maravi Post on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, Namiwa wonders why Chizuma’s rejection has caused public when she is not the first one whose appointment PAC has rejected to confirm.
He cited the recent rejection of Atuweni Juwaweyi Abermodji as DG for the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA).
“CDEDI does not side and support any conduct or actions that pose a threat to the survival of our democracy and interfere with the rule of law. In the interest of transparency and accountability, CDEDI would like to inform the public that we already wrote Madam Chimuza on April 30th, 2021, congratulating her for coming out successful in the strenuous interviews and her subsequent approval by the President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera. In the letter, CDEDI did challenge Chizuma to desist from the tendency of applying the law very selectively, a route that she seemingly took by focusing on the ills of the immediate past ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and those associated with it,” reads part of the letter.
In its congratulatory message, CDEDI outlined a number of issues to the fearless Ombudsman, which were waiting for her on her desk as the new ACB Director.
They included the unanswered questions surrounding the plunder of the MK6.2 Billion Covid-19 funds; the now forgotten 6th July independence celebrations expenditure report, which Chakwera promised to make it available to Malawians within a month; the National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) fuel supply scandal; the State House Crossroads Hotel accommodation scandal and the dubious awarding of contracts of unjustifiable huge amounts of money to very suspicious contractors by the current administration; among other issues.
Thus, Namiwa believes all the insults and backlash on PAC are uncalled for, unwarranted, unjustifiable, and very bad for democracy and should not be condoned at any cost.
“Let us respect the rule of law by acknowledging the separation of powers. Madam Chizuma is just a victim of deep trenched corruption in the country in both the previous and the Tonse Alliance Administration because looking at the composition of PAC, it is very clear that Tonse Alliance Government enjoys majority membership thereof. It means both the ruling and the opposition camps are not comfortable with Chizuma. We should, therefore, be afraid as country, because we have a crop of MPs in parliament who are paying lip service on the war against corruption, and that includes the current Tonse Alliance administration,” he alleges.
Namiwa further argues that as much as there is politics involved in the issue, PAC members did not break any law since they have used their conscious to rate Chizuma, stressing that this is the very same yardstick they used to measure all other appointees in the past.
“CDEDI would like to warn Malawians of good will to be vigilant all the time to stand up against all unpopular decisions that have the potential to drag the country back into dictatorship. We should also let all the statutory committees and constitutional offices to discharge their duties without undue pressure and unnecessary influence! Finally, as a nation, we should at all cost desist from emotional appeals when dealing with matters of national importance,” he concludes.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has given PAC seven days to redo the interview and confirm Chizuma’s appointment or face nationwide demonstrations.
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s civil rights group Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has challenged Malawi Parliament on deliberating debates for the national budget which will bail out locals from economic hardships.
The grouping has dared Members of Parliament (MPs) to focus on local peoples needs than that of their political party leaders including scrapping off VAT (tax) on cooking oil, fuel levies and other punitive taxes on basic commodities.
The call comes ahead of 2021/2021 National Budget Parliament session slated for Wednesday, May 12, 2021 in the capital Lilongwe.
In a press statement made available to The Maravi Post on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa expects the budget session for pro-poor that President Lazarus Chakwera’s Tonse administration be deliver to campaign promises made during June 23, 2020 Fresh Presidential Elections.
Below is CDEDI full statement on Parliament:
LET THE PARLIAMENTARY DELIBERATIONS FOCUS ON THE HIGH COST OF LIVING, AND PRESIDENT CHAKWERA TO SET A CLEAR ROADMAP FOR THE DELIVERY OF ALL THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN PROMISES
The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI), and indeed all Malawians of good will would like to challenge Members of Parliament (MPs) and President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera that Malawians, the majority of whom are the voters, expect nothing less than a pro-poor kind of budget sitting of parliament, which should translate into a drop in the current high cost of living due to among other things, unrealistic and punitive tax policies.
It is an open secret that this meeting of parliament, which is expected to commence on Wednesday, 12th May 2021, is coming at a time when the majority of Malawians are struggling to make ends meet, due to punitive taxes, levies, high interest rates and exorbitant prices on essential services and products such as water, electricity, fuel and high mobile phone tariffs, etc.
CDEDI is meanwhile, challenging MPs to rise above petty party politics, and introduce motions, including healthy debates which should raise very pertinent questions that should result into the scrapping off of the 16.5 percent VAT on cooking oil, review of some of the unjustifiable levies and tariffs on fuel,electricity and water, to ensure the reduction of the high cost of production which is threatening the survival of the local industry.
CDEDI would like to maintain its stand that the punitive tax regimes in the country are scaring off prospective investors, while the existing ones are closing shop, a development that has made smuggling of goods to flourish, at the expense of local production.
The country is in the process exporting jobs and externalizing the much-needed forex on one hand, while on the other hand, the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) is losing out on taxes and revenue.
Similarly, CDEDI is once again challenging President Chakwera to cease the opportunity to share with Malawians a very clear roadmap, detailing how his government is going to implement the Tonse Alliance manifesto, having failed to do the same during his inaugural State of the Nation (SoNA) in the 2020/2021 fiscal year. We don’t want the trial-and-error kind of leadership which we are currently witnessing, whereby the President tells Malawians one priority area today, and a totally different priority area the following day.
CDEDI is also asking the national assembly to debate and review the 2011 Pension Act, especially sections 64 and 65 that give inhumane restrictions to access to pension funds in an event that the contributor loses a job.
The two sections have seen Malawi sending its productive citizens to an early grave due to lack of funds to pay for medical care elsewhere, when their money is lying idle with the respective pension administrators, purportedly waiting for the mandatory retirement age of 60!
CDEDI is further challenging the MPs to ensure that they exercise their oversight role to pressurize the Tonse Alliance government to ensure that it addresses the gray areas in the MK6.2 Billion Covid-19 scandal, and the MK17.5 billion allocated for the same.
Lastly, but not the least, CDEDI would like to warn MPs to desist from towing their masters’ line in total disregard of the will of the electorates, as doing so would make us not to hesitate in mobilizing the masses to stand up against such selfish political interests.
Signed by: Sylvester Namiwa, CDEDI Executive Director
Namiwa: Chakwera and Chikhosi must face the music of legal fees also
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera and Secretary to President and Cabinet (SPC) Zangazanga Chikhosi are personally liable to meet legals costs government has incurred following court battle loss on two Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) commissioners Linda Kunje and Jean Mathanga.
The country’s civil rights group Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) in press statement made available to Maravi Post on Saturday, May 8, 2021, says Chakwera and Chikhosi must meet the legal costs for defying Attorney General (AG) Chikosa Silungwe’s legal advise on the matter.
CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa observes that for wantonly disregarding the rule of law, and in direct defiance of legal advice from the AG, “This in fact is enough ground for Chakwera’s impeachment”.
The requests comes after the High Court of Malawi has ordered the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) to pay the costs, a development the CDEDI executive director Sylvester Namiwa feels is inappropriate and unfair on the tax-burdened Malawians who will now have to shoulder the bill.
“CDEDI, therefore, is hereby requesting the legal counsel for the two MEC Commissioners to consider moving the courts to slap President Chakwera and the Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Mr. Zangazanga Chikhosi with the legal costs in their personal capacities, for wantonly disregarding the rule of law, and in direct defiance of legal advice from the Attorney General (AG). This in fact is enough ground for impeachment!Those who may choose to care may recall that in our petition dated December 18, 2020 under the heading ‘we say no to impunity and executive arrogance,’ we asked the President and the SPC to act on the Attorney General’s legal opinion to give the two MEC Commissioners their appointment letters.
“CDEDI also maintained the same stand in our petition dated January 19, 2021, which was delivered to the President through the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Blantyre City Council, at the end of peaceful demonstrations held in the city.Having noticed the total disregard of the two petitions, CDEDI formally wrote President Chakwera On February 13, 2021, bringing to his attention that his decision to ignore the AG’s legal opinion could be construed as political victimization, coupled with his nepotistic tendency and dislike for the people from the Southern Region,” reads part of CDEDI statement.
Namiwa adds, “CDEDI in the same letter warned President Chakwera and Mr. Chikhosi that should the two MEC Commissioners decide to take Government to court for unfair dismissal, CDEDI and all well-meaning Malawians would hold him and his secretary personally liable.It is for this reason that we are appealing to the legal team representing the two commissioners to move the courts to ensure that the poor and marginalized taxpayers should not pay for Chakwera’s growing disrespect for the rule of law and, and the Republic Constitution. After all, a good precedent was already set, where the country’s former President Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika, and the former SPC Lloyd Muhara, were recently personally held liable for similar decisions they made while they were in office.
“Lastly, but not the least CDEDI is reminding President Chakwera that before assuming the high office of the presidency, he took an oath to protect the constitution without fear or favour. CDEDI therefore, will not hesitate to mobilize Malawians to stand up against Chakwera’s total disrespect for the rule of law, selective application of justice and attempts to take back the country to dictatorship”.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera has been told to apologize Malawians for fake promises that warranted his country’s leadership.
Protesters in the capital Lilongwe cited Chakwera’s Tonse government’s failure to buy necessary medical equipment during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic yet MK1 billion meant for the pandemic was left idle.
The demands are part of the petition presented to authorities following Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI)’s demonstration against punitive taxes
CDEDI has also petitioned Chakwera’s Tonse administration to scrape off the 16.5 percent VAT on cooking oil.
“President Chakwera should institute a team that should review the tax policies on essential products and services, in a bid to come up with tax laws that create an enabling environment for the local industry to flourish. The unjustifiable levies on fuel must be scrapped off from the pump prices. Government should remove taxes from essential services such as water and electricity,” the organization said.
On data charges, CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa said the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) should stop shielding the mobile phone operators who are charging exorbitantly for mobile phone calls and data.
“In the same vein, the communications regulator should strictly monitor the quality of services being rendered by such operators, which are mostly substandard,” said the organization.
Namiwa also demanded for Chakwera to exonerate himself, some of his cabinet ministers and top State House officials, from accusations bordering on nepotism and favouritism, which were levelled against him by a former Malawi Congress Party (MCP) lawmaker for Kasungu, Alex Major.
Chakwera’s nepotism on placard
He therefore warned that if their grievances are not addressed, they will conduct more mass demonstrations.
Principal Administration Officer for Lilongwe City Council Hudson Kuphanga received the petition on behalf of Chakwera.
Kuphanga lauded protesters for peaceful demonstrations without breaking people’s property.
He therefore assured the protesters that the petition will be presented to Office of the president and Cabinet.
