Tag Archives: Human Rights Defenders Coalition

Lifestyle, Malawi, Politics

“Chakwera’s Tonse admin turns Malawians’ hopes into nightmare, pain”-HRDC

Maravi Post Reporter 1 Comment
Chakwera: Nothing meaningful to show to Malawians in a year in power

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country militant social right group Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) says President Lazarus Chakwera Tonse administration has turned Malawians’ hopes and aspirations into despair and pain with no plan in sight in the one year it has been in power.

This is serious observation HRDC has pointed out as its considered as advocate for Tonse government.

President Chakwera’s Tonse government has attained a year in office with no meaningful achievement contrary to peoples expectation.

Chakwera’s one year of empty promises

The grouping’s analysis outlines slowness, indecisiveness, nepotism and lack of seriousness in fighting corruption with its alleged failure to account for COVID-19 funds.

HRDC Chairperson Gift Trapence has since told the current regime not to take Malawians for granted; calling for removal of “dead wood in its ranks and file stifling progress.

HRDC has therefore called on President Chakwera to immediately reshuffle his cabinet and appoint capable people and not friends and cronies.

However on a positive note, the coalition has commended the administration on food security, access to information, rule of law and public sector reforms.

Chakwera’s Tonse government is slowly losing public trust over economic turmoil Malawians are going through: skyrocketing basic items including water, cooking oil, electricity, fuel, soap and among others.

Malawi

Malawi’s HRDC to challenge Tonse Alliance government’s order to close borders

Maneno Chimulala
Billy Mayaya

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)–The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has disclosed that it is engaging its lawyers on the way forward following government’s order to close borders for 14 days.

On 22 December, Government announced new Covid-19 restrictions which among others saw the closure of all borders as well as limiting the number of people in public gatherings to 100.

But reacting to the closure, Macdonald Sembereka, an Executive member of HRDC says as a human rights lobby group, they feel the closure is an infringement on people’s right to movement.

According to Sembereka, government was supposed to consult the citizenry before imposing such an order.

Meanwhile, Sembereka has told the country’s media that the grouping is engaging its lawyer on the possibility of challenging government’s decision.

But Homeland Security Minister Richard Chimwendo Banda has said the government will reinforce the law to make sure that the general public complies with the new Covid19 measures such as not having more than 100 people per gathering.

Banda says police will be visiting gatherings such as music shows so that people in attendance should not exceed 100.

Prophet Shepherd Bushiri who was supposed to hold mega Cross-over night on 31 December has also resorted to holding the cross-over online in the wake of the second wave of Covid-19.

Malawi

Malawi’s HRDC demands sanity in sale of

Richard Kayenda
Gift Trapence (Centre): HRDC Chairperson

MZUZU-(MaraviPost)—Human Right Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has asked government to guard against dubious sale of land and suspicious change of ownership that has of late become order of the day at the Ministry of Land and Urban Development.

Speaking on Friday at a press briefing in Lilongwe, HRDC Chairperson, Gift Trapence, said should government fail to do the needful, they will have no option but to organise demonstrations to express the seriousness about their position.

Trapence said his organisation will always remain independent in order for them to point out any corrupt practices the government ministries, departments and agencies indulge in.

The organisation further called upon government to digitalise land management system as one way of curbing rampant corruption which seems to have covered wider ground at the ministry.

Another radical leader of the organisation, Reverend McDonald Sembereka, said there are several complaints about officials of the ministry monopolising business opportunities, saying such a tendency is a clear indication that corruption characterises the officials.

However, Minister of Information, who is also government’s spokesperson, Gospel Kazako, assured HRDC that the current government is highly committed to fighting corruption and safeguarding human rights.

Recently, HRDC and other human rights organisation asked government to reconstitute the newly appointed boards of directors, arguing that the appointing authorities violated the gender equality act and other statutes of the constitution.

Opinion

MEC Chair Jane Ansah is holding her own against all comers

Elwin Mandowa

For months now opposition parties Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and UTM have banded together in supporting Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) demonstrations demanding resignation of Jane Ansah, the head of the southern African nation’s electoral agency that they accuse of helping rig an election to keep Peter Mutharika as president.

However, Jane Ansah who strongly believes that she did nothing wrong and her stance is backed by all international observers is still standing. She believed that The ConCourt court was going to exonerate her. However, when the five Judges ruled against her and demeaned her in their 500-page rambling judgement, she was never deterred. She appealed to the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal and is waiting and hoping for a favorable ruling.

She faced down Public Appointments Committee (PAC) inquiry and confounded the law makers with her understanding of Election laws. They tried to force her to give incriminating YES or NO answers, but she fought back and educated them on the laws and constitution mandates on Elections Management in Malawi.


Before the start of Public Appointments Committee (PAC) inquiry, Jane Ansah was seen posing for pictures and smiling. That irritated her detractors who claimed she was not taking the proceedings seriously.

However, the haters are just such. She did take the proceeding serious enough where she summed the whole election case in two paragraphs below:

• Electoral laws were not breached because of the use of the correctional fluid. Rather the electoral laws were upheld because corrections were made after detecting human errors at poling centers”.


• Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Jane Ansah SC has told the Public Appointments Committee of Parliament that all decisions made during and after the elections were made by the entire Commission and that there was no single moment that she made a personal decision regarding the management of the May 21 2019 tripartite elections.


Just today MEC Chairperson, Justice Dr. Jane Ansah, was giving a report to the National Elections Consultative Forum #NECOF in Blantyre ahead of the forthcoming fresh presidential poll.

Dr Ansah was speaking to the media in Blantyre on Friday alongside with Mec Commissioners.


Chair Ansah was reading out the report and said the #NECOF will do a postmortem of the nullified election after the fresh presidential poll.
MEC chairperson Jane Ansah has told National Elections Consultative Forum (NECOF) meeting in Blantyre the commission will respect the Constitutional Court ruling to hold fresh elections within 150 days.


• Dr. Ansah said MEC is preparing for the fresh elections using the same legal frameworks that were used during the 2019 nullified polls since the parliament amended electoral bills are yet to be made laws.

• MEC will accept all proofs of identification under the current law during voter registration since the bill to limit identification proof to a national ID only is yet to be made a law, said Jane.

• On majority interpretation, Chair Jane Ansah said the current law does not allow for a run-off; making it confuse on how to declare winner in the fresh presidential election.

• She said the commission has started preparing for the fresh elections to be held on May 19.


She said so far, #MEC has already recruited BVRJ technicians who have serviced computers to be used in the polling process.

Her detractors are so frustrated that Ibrahim Matola resorted to abusive remarks beneath a politician.

Remarks that many condemned including Former President Joyce Banda who is no friend of Chair Ansah.

Joyce Banda
Former President Joyce Banda condemned abusive remarks by Matola against Jane Ansah


There are many things Justice Ansah could have done or said during this electoral process that I do not agree with, but she does not deserve to be spoken to in that manner.

I am told that Hon Matola has apologized but I am very sorry about this apparent abuse of a fellow woman and regardless of who has made the remarks, I condemn them in the strongest manner.

Jane Ansah If anything has proved her mettle despite unwarranted personal attacks mainly from male politicians in Malawi.

Opinion

Z ALLAN NTATA’S UNCOMMON SENSE: 2019 Whom Do We Blame It On?

Z. Allan Ntata
Saulos Chilima
Troubled looking Petitioner 1 Saulos Chilima coming out of Court

No politician will admit and accept that had they been less greedy, less selfish, less egotistical or just a bit more humble, 2019 would have been the year that Malawi turned a corner and joined the road to economic prosperity being travelled upon by its neighbours. For politicians, it is easier, and indeed a requirement of the profession it seems, to point the finger of blame elsewhere other than at self.

SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY PROFESSOR PETER MUTHARIKA AT THE CLIMATE CHANGE SUMMIT, MADRID- SPAIN

Thus in taking stock on 2019, President Mutharika has decided to blame Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) for the country’s failures. It is rather cheeky, isn’t it, that a president whose very electoral victory has been demonstrated to have been riddled with massive irregularities, irregularities which he decided not to defend or explain in the courts as the case was heard, can claim that those that were demonstrating about such an election were the terrorists? Is not the greatest terrorism of all the terrorism of robbing an entire nation of its right to vote? And for someone who has been in the presidential seat for nearly 6 years now, how can he believe that we will buy into the idea that his failures as president are simply a matter of what has transpired over the past 8 months?

Four Malawian protesters have been charged with the murder of a policeman who was stoned to death during clashes between pro- and anti-government demonstrators outside the capital Lilongwe, police said Saturday.

I would have expected Mutharika’s stocktaking of 2019 to contain statements about his administration’s position on the police perpetrated rapes and sexual attacks that took place in Msundwe. I expected Mutharika to speak about the land-grabbing matters that have implicated his very wife, and his close aides and top party brass. Surely he needed to say something about these serious matters and what his administration is doing about them even if at the present time, he is standing on shaky ground as far as his continued presence as leader is concerned. Furthermore, how can a presidential stocktaking of 2019 not include explanations and statements on the corruption that is rampant in his administration- especially when he, the president himself, is implicated in it?

Is it not his own police service that has become a terrorist group
when there are reports that the police go into villages to rape and sexually assault women? Surely this is the behaviour more associated with terrorist groups than staging demonstrations against elections that even the president himself admits were marred with irregularities?
Malawian opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) leader Lazarus Chakwera

If you think that the problem of pointing fingers is only a Mutharika problem, however, then you need to think again. Of the opposition politicians, Dr Lazarus Chakwera of MCP has been quick to give his own stocktaking statement for 2019. I imagine Chakwera feels obliged to do this as he sees himself as president in waiting and given that his party members already address him as “your excellency”. In his statement, you will not find any introspection or self-examination. You will not find any admission that much of the reasons the country lies in quandary as it is today are because they, the politicians, have let the country down.

There are fingers of blame pointed at opposition politicians and promises that 2020 will be a better year- apparently because he, Chakwera, will be our president according to his thinking.

I would like to submit, however that had the politicians really had the good of the country in their hearts, we would hear confessions and admissions of blame. Way back in 2018, those of us observing, analysing and commentating on the political situation in Malawi pointed out that it was important for the political opposition to unite and form a grand coalition for this was the surest way of toppling Mutharika and the DPP from power. 

We all know that this did not happen. We all know that what happened was a divided opposition that allowed for narrow enough electoral margins that could be easily manipulated by the correction fluid known as tippex. The question that boggles the mind is, what was it that so huge a disagreement point between the opposition political leaders to make them sacrifice certain electoral victory and indeed to sacrifice Malawi’s future?

There are those that claim that the main opposition parties are so ideologically different that a merger between them would simply betray the greed and selfishness to grab power at any cost.  What ideology, I say? I took the time to read the manifestoes of the parties in the run up to the 2019 elections and my impression was that if there really are any ideological differences between MCP, UTM and UDF, then they are minimal and essentially irrelevant as these were not clear in the manifestoes.

Some say an alliance was not possible because some parties in the opposition represent the old older while other parties represent the new order of doing politics in Malawi. As far as I am concerned, the problem was probably that of having to deal with the various egos of the party leaders as each of them believed and still believe that they are more entitled to the presidential seat than their peers.

Is it on the shoulders of the politicians upon which we should law the blame for the Malawian woes then? I would not be so quick to draw that conclusion.

I am inclined to believe that our politicians behave as selfishly as they do because we, the people, allow them to do so. It is our own self interest as a people that encouraged Atupele Muluzi to still run for president when we all knew that he had lost national trust because of his childish shenanigans, and that there was no way he was ever going to amount to much as a presidential candidate. It was the selfish interests of those hoping to take the lion’s share of influence that ended up blocking any talks of a grand alliance and insisted that their so-called candidate should contest alone, fearing that an alliance meant shared influence in the case of an eventual victory.

Its is essentially us, the people that have nurtured and encouraged greed and selfishness in our leaders by holding them up as infallible of worshipping them as heroes when there is so far no evidence of any heroism. We have massaged their ego, making it grow to uncontrollable sizes by our words of flattery and praise instead of reminding them that one of the main qualifications of leadership is humility.

As easy as it may be to blame the politicians for the plight of this country, and its lot is 2019, the truth of the matter is that the failure to redeem Malawi in 2019 was the result of we, the people putting our own interests above that of the country. We did so by promoting and supporting leaders and political parties in the wrong way- the way we support football teams, instead of supporting ideas that would save this nation.

In 2020, it will be useful to remember, as Greek philosopher Plato stated, that the most important qualification for leadership is not desiring to be leader in the first place. Humility. Not ego.

Opinion

Mutharika should act on our demands or be toppled

Patseni Mauka 3 Comments

Malawi court grants HRDC’s Anti-Ansah demos in Blantyre…As MDF soldiers assures protesters’ safety

In yet another sign that the persistent demonstrations against numerous evils of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regime are paying dividends, Mutharika desperately ordered the Malawi Police and Malawi Defence Force (MDF) to use ‘any necessary force’ to stop the demonstrations. Malawi’s worst Minister of Information since 1994 has also joined his demented boss by informing Malawians that ‘no permission will be granted for demonstrations’.

Malawi Govt will ban all demos, a move likely to inflame the IRE of HRDC

Mutharika gave the unconstitutional order at an event marking the launch of MDF ‘warships’ in Mangochi. The order has excited the overzealous DPP paid cadres to the point of conveniently forgetting that this is not the first time Mutharika has issued such threats since Malawians started demonstrating to demand the resignation of MEC chairperson Justice Jane Ansah for presiding over a controversial election.

Mutharika has several times before issued similar threats that were ignored by angry Malawians. On 6th July 2019, a day that marked Malawi’s 55th anniversary of independence from Britain, Mutharika accused the demonstration organizers of plotting to oust ‘his government’ and warned that the organizers ‘will be dealt with severely’. He said, “we will hold each one of them accountable, force will be met by force and this nonsense will come to an end.”

To actualize his threats, Mutharika sent his party cadets on the streets to terrorize protesters in full view of the police. However, professional MDF soldiers saved the day after beating the hell out of the cadets. The cadets coiled back to their masters who sent them to cause havoc. The police also had a try at terrorizing peaceful protesters but a few kicks by MDF soldiers showed them the correct way of doing things.

Then Mutharika tried using former Inspector General of Police, Rodney Jose, to stop the demonstrations. In a shameless show of ignorance and arrogance, Jose ordered Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) to ‘forthwith’ ‘stop convening demonstrations until such a time when it would be possible to convene and hold peaceful demonstrations’.

HRDC ignored the unlawful demand and led angry Malawians in marching in all the major cities in numbers that have never seen before. In all these protests, MDF conducted itself professionally knowing its role as a security agent and appreciating the right to demonstrate as enshrined in the constitution. It’s incredible that Mutharika thinks MDF would behave differently because of his unconstitutional orders.

Mutharika and his party think a president can just issue orders without reference to the constitution. However, a simple chat on these matters with former President Bakili Muluzi would teach him that presidential orders are not indispensable.

The High Court in a judicial review misc. civil cause no. 78 of 2002 ruled that two similar directives made by the former president were unconstitutional. On 28th May 2002 Muluzi issued two directives to the Police and Army to ensure a ban on all forms of demonstration in relation to the constitutional amendment sought to allow the President of the Republic of Malawi to serve unlimited terms.

In his judgement, Justice Twea indicated that the Minister of Home Affairs, the Inspector General and the Army Commander are all subject to the Constitution in the exercise of their power and duties. Justice Twea said, “Section 25 of the Police Act cannot and does not limit the right to demonstrate; it only regulates how such rights, among other things, can be enjoyed. The citizen therefore need only give the Police notice of the assembly etc.”

He further said, “There is no legal requirement that the Police should grant them permission and there is no legal requirement to give notice about who will be addressing or what will be said at the assembly, meeting or procession.” The judge also said according to S.25 of the Police Act, assemblies, meeting or processions at private places do not require Police notice.

He concluded by saying that, “After considering the arguments and submissions before me, I find that there is no law prescribed to limit or restrict the right to assembly and demonstration. I find that the directive of the President at a political rally to limit such rights does not amount to law.”

Therefore, Mutharika’s orders should not be followed by the Police and Army because it is unconstitutional. The statements from the Minister of information should also be ignored. They are unlawful and products of deep lack of knowledge about Malawi laws as well as belief that the executive arm of government can get away with impunity.

Mutharika’s illegal orders and Botomani’s midnight statements show that the temporary government is weak and under pressure. Mutharika is trying to use the ‘strongman’ card used by most African dictators. But it can’t work in Malawi. He saw it working in Zimbabwe a few weeks ago and thinks it can work in Malawi.

Sorry old man, Malawi is not Zimbabwe. Malawi has developed its own kind of democracy. We can protest and speak our mind better than most of the African countries. The laws of Malawi do not allow you to run away from issues by giving unconstitutional orders. You have two choices; act on our demands or be toppled by citizen power!

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are not necessarily the views of the Publisher or the Editor of Maravi Post

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Politics, Top News

Malawi Govt will ban all demos, a move likely to inflame the IRE of HRDC

Elwin Mandowa 1 Comment

July 25 demos in Lilongwe

BLANTYRE (MaraviPost): In a move that will raise the ire of HRDC and opposition parties, The Government says would like to inform the public that it has decided not to grant permission for demonstrations planned by the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) to go ahead from Wednesday, 28th August 2019.

As such, Government would like to warn all citizens to ignore any notice of demonstrations and not take part in the same.

Government has taken this decision considering that all recent demonstrations have turned out to be riotous despite assurances by the organizers that they would be peaceful.

Government is convinced that conveners of these demonstrations deliberately abuse the right to demonstrate to achieve other ulterior agendas.

Going forward, no permission to hold demonstrations will be granted by the relevant authorities until such a time when it is possible for the conveners to organize peaceful demonstrations.

Government has an obligation of ensuring that all rights are safeguarded, and no single right is used to violate other rights.

Any person who defies the warning not to proceed with the planned demonstrations and/or not to participate in them will be stopped with necessary force by law enforcers.

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Opinion

The Tenure of IG Rodney Jose ends the same way it began with controversy

Elwin Mandowa 1 Comment

Inspector General of Police (IG) Rodney Jose

When the Malawi Parliament confirmed Rodney Jose as the new Inspector General (IG) of Police services, there were calls questioning his appointment from civil society organizations (CSOs).

The questionable appointment happened as government side managed to garner the much-needed support from independent members to confirm Jose’ appointment.

Rodney Jose amassed 96 votes to have the confirmation, as 55 legislators rejected his confirmation whilst two were absent.

The confirmation came after a bruising debate on the eligibility of Jose to be the top cop as the opposition members of parliament said he was not fit.

The leading opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) spokesperson Maxwell Thyolera in Parliament said Jose did not deserve the position because he has Polytechnic student Robert Chasowa murder case hanging over his head.

“A commission of inquiry implicated him as one of the suspects in the death of Robert Chasowa, today Mr Jose has not been cleared of the allegations,” said Thyolera.

Thyolera also said during his time as acting IG, the ruling Democratic Progressive

Party (DPP) cadets had become more powerful that they could beat up and harass opposition members and critics of President Peter Mutharika and the government.

The lawmaker added that DPP cadets could ambush leaders of the opposition and beat up and harass journalists and critics of the government in full view of the police.

“We are going towards the election, I do not know if we will have free and fair elections with such violence against the opposition,” he wondered.

Minister of Home Affairs Cecelia Chazama said Jose was hard working and patriotic Malawian who has served in the police for 35 years.

Fast Forward to after May Elections

The leadership of Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has been daring Inspector General of Malawi Police Service Rodney Jose over threats he strained on anti-Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson Dr. Jane Ansah demonstration.

The grouping has challenged IG Jose that he must desist from blatant political partisanship.

Patseni Mauka wrote the following in an opinion carried by the Maravi Post:

“In a shameless show of incompetence and arrogance, the Malawi Police Inspector General (IG) Rodney Jose has ordered Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) to ‘forthwith’ ‘stop convening demonstrations until such a time when it would be possible to convene and hold peaceful demonstrations’. In what he must have thought was a strong letter that would make the HRDC leaders pee in their pants, the blue coloured IG gave several reasons for the decision.

In the letter which is circulating on social media Jose said, “The Malawi Police Service has recorded a worrisome number of cases of injury to persons and damage to property during demonstrations”. This is true but the blame should one hundred percent lie on the police. There are two types of injuries from the demonstrations; injuries on protesters caused by violence perpetrated by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) cadets and injuries on DPP cadets that occurred during confrontation with Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldiers who intervened to protect demonstrators from the cadets.

The blame should be laid on the police because the protesters suffered the injuries in full view of the police who deliberately turned a blind eye in fear of DPP cadets. This has been the trend for a long time. The Police is no longer independent. It serves DPP’s interests.”

So, it appears IG Jose was overtaken by events. He could not guarantee peaceful demos without appearing partisan. Yes, it was time for him to go as what is needed is an IG that will appear impartial during these volatile times while making sure all Malawians are safe.

 

Elwin Mandowa is the Publisher and Managing Editor of The Maravipost

Development, Lifestyle

Full transcript of APM speech: During the Commissioning of Warships at Maritime Defence Forces Headquarters, MONKEYBAY, MANGOCHI

MaraviPost

Fellow Malawians, today marks another milestone in the history of Malawi, specifically our Defence Forces as we gather to witness the commissioning of the state of the art warships.

As we celebrate this moment, I would like to thank our men and women in uniform for the commendable job that they do day and night, ensuring that there is peace in this country.

I am very happy that our soldiers are among the best in the world. I am proud of their level of discipline and professionalism, which has, on many occasions, earned them international recognition.

As the Commander in Chief of the Malawi Defence Force, I will continue to provide every support for effective operations. Our Military will continue to get the best training and modern equipment.

The launch of these warships, today, is a manifestation of my government’s commitment to maintaining a well-equipped Defence Force.

Let me recognize the support and cooperation that was rendered by the People’s Republic of China during the procurement process. We appreciate the friendship.

Fellow Malawians, as we talk about peace, we should remember that it is one of our most precious assets and we need to be jealously guarding it.

Peace is often times taken for granted. But when there is no peace, everyone feels it.

Without peace, there can never be economic development. Conflicts only serve to scare investors away, destroy businesses and push people into poverty.

When there is no peace, everyone suffers. The suffering sees no religion, tribe or gender. Sadly, it is the women and the children who suffer the most.

As we have all noticed, this country is undergoing violence, looting, arson, and general lawlessness apparently because some individuals are dissatisfied with the outcome of the just ended May 21 elections.

The violence we are witnessing is being orchestrated by the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) alongside Malawi Congress Party and to an extent UTM in the name of ‘‘demonstrations’’.

On May 21, we went to the elections to choose our leaders. We went to the elections because our Constitution tells us that we can only choose a leader of this country, our Members of Parliament and our Councilors through an election.

Our Constitution does not say we will choose our leaders through anarchy and violence. For example, on 21st June, 2019, the leader of Malawi Congress Party, Rev. Chakwera sent his Members of Parliament to disrupt my State of the Nation Address.

Rev Chakwera, I don’t care whether you respect me or not. I don’t need your respect, but please respect the Presidency.

Our Constitution and the laws regarding elections were crafted at the dawn of multiparty politics twenty five years ago. At that time, we agreed as a nation that we need this set of laws because we need to be a nation of order.

We wanted to be a nation of order because we know that it is only when we are an orderly society that we will develop as a country.

Today, almost four months after the elections, we have seen elements that are refusing to be guided by our laws.

Our laws are very clear on delivery of justice. We use courts. Mob justice is not allowed in our laws.

Our laws are also clear that while the Constitution allows demonstrations as a human right, the same Constitution on the same provision provides for a condition to the demonstrations; and clearly says, the demonstrations should be peaceful, and that the demonstrators should not be armed.

In other words, violent demonstrations are outlawed in our Constitution.

We are all witnesses that the HRDC, MCP and UTM politicians have failed to conduct their demonstrations according to the law.

It is not in our laws that demonstrators should petrol-bomb government offices, dig up our roads, damage schools for our children or attack people that choose not to participate in their violent demonstrations.

The law does not say demonstrators should plot to and burn houses of those that belong to other parties, regions and tribes.

Let me warn Rev Chakwera, Mtambo, Trapence and Sembereka to put themselves in the position of that Police Officer who spent all his time building up his property from a very small salary only to see it destroyed in one day. Put yourself in the position of that unfortunate Police Officer. This is very wrong.

It is not in our laws that those demonstrating should be stripping our women police officers, pelt them with stones, torch and loot their houses.

It is against the Rule of Law that those demonstrating should damage people’s cars, loot innocent people’s businesses and shops, harass our vendors and stop businesses from trading.

For the record, I have to say that I have noted the smokescreen attempts by the HRDC and the opposition to be seen to be condemning the violence, looting and arson that always characterized their demonstrations. I don’t find their statements sincere at all. It is not even amusing.

I have also noted the HRDC and the opposition politicians describe the violent demonstrations as ‘‘successful’’ when they know too well that innocent Malawians are losing their businesses, their livelihoods and blood is being shed due to their actions.

I find it strange that the HRDC, while acknowledging that there is always violence during their demonstrations, and attempting to disassociate themselves from the looters and arsonists during the demonstrations, they describe the unfortunate incidents as successful and continue to provide the platform for the crimes in the name of demonstrations.

I would like to remind the HRDC leadership, MCP and UTM that they can fool some Malawians sometimes, but they can’t fool all Malawians all the times.

Our Constitution does not say that the right to demonstrate is absolute and supreme over all other human rights.

This means that when someone exercises their human right to demonstrate in a way that violates other people’s human rights, they are breaking the law.

This is what we have seen the HRDC and the opposition politicians doing in the past four months. They have been violating our rights. They have been violating the Constitutional order on demonstrations.

They have become instruments of lawlessness and anarchy. They are undermining our laws by creating own structures where they are delivering mob-justice.

They want to become law unto themselves. They have become agents of injustice.

Fellow Malawians, as I have said before, if we are not careful, evil will rule this country one day.

We all have a duty to defend our democracy from forces of evil.

Let me also appeal to all the institutions we established to govern us to rise to their duty and protect our people from the villains that do not want to be governed by Constitutional Order.

We all agree that the right to peacefully demonstrate is in the Constitution. But, allowing others to use that right to violate other people rights is wrong and unacceptable.

We all have a duty to defend people’s rights to economic activity, political choice and freedom of association and to stop thuggery.

We have a duty to reject torture and harassment of our people in the name of demonstrations.

As President of this country, I want to reiterate that I will always defend the Constitution because I want us to be a country of order.

I will always defend people’s rights, including the right to peacefully demonstrate because this is part of the Constitution that I defend. But, I will not defend violent demonstrations because they are not provided for in our laws.

I will not defend demonstrations that violate other people’s rights because the Constitution that I defend does not allow violation of other people’s rights in the name of demonstrations.

Fellow Malawians, now let me come to the issue of demonstrations at our borders and airports.

I am aware of plans by the HRDC and their bedfellows – MCP and UTM – to cause disruptions at our borders and airports in the name of demonstrations.

These plans and threats, confirm what we have always suspected.

The disruptions we are witnessing in the name of elections are not about elections, but the opposition attempt to take over a lawfully constituted government by unlawful means using the HRDC mask. This will not be allowed.

The border disruption agenda as we see it is to disable our national security at the border, allow enemies of this country enter the country unimpeded and to disrupt Malawi’s national interests at the borders.
As we all know, the MDF was established to:
? Protect Malawi from external forces;
? Maintain the Constitution order of Malawi; and
? Assist civil authorities in maintenance of law and order.
The civil authorities on its part is there to maintain law and order in this country.
I call upon the HRDC and its supporters to deeply reflect on their intention to disturb our borders.

Border disturbance is an act of aggression against Malawi and its citizens.

In recent past, all well-meaning Malawians can agree that our military and the police have acted with outmost restraint in dealing with the violence the HRDC, MCP and UTM have been orchestrating.

Regardless of the looting and the attacks our security officers, no single life has been lost.

I commend the men in uniform for achieving this under very difficult circumstances and for listening to my advice. However, the question of evading our borders and airports is a different matter altogether.

As President of this country and as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, one of my fundamental responsibilities is to safeguard the territorial integrity of our beloved country.
Under International Law, the state has four characteristics. For there to be a state there must be;

? Population
? Territory
? Government
? Established and defined border

Without borders, there is no Malawi. Undermining our borders, is undermining the very existence and sovereignty of our country. Invading borders is the greatest threat anyone can pose upon our country.

I will therefore have no choice but to take all measures necessary to ensure and protect the sovereignty and integrity of our nation.

As the commander- in-Chief, I am directing the MDF and the Police to protect our borders and airports with all the necessary force to ensure that the integrity of our borders is not compromised even for a single minute.

The surest way to make sure that no life is lost due the reckless intentions of the HRDC and the opposition politicians is to make sure that the said demonstrations do not take place.

Should HRDC and its supporters insist of evading our borders or airports, they should not say they were not warned.

In conclusion, let me repeat my appeal to all Malawians to continue to be Patriotic.

I am aware of the anguish and pain that many Malawians have suffered due to the action of the HRDC, MCP and UTM.

The law shall hold the aggressors accountable at an appropriate time. This, I promise you.

Let us continue to promote Peace, Love and Unity among one another.

Our beautiful country, Malawi, is a God-fearing Nation deserves peace and calm.

I shall not sit idle and watch as few people destroy our country for their selfish reasons.

Evil shall never triumph over righteousness.

With these remarks, I now declare the warships officially commissioned.

God bless Malawi!
God bless You all!

District News

Malawi Government denies permit for Demos planned by HRDC for 6th and 7th August

Malawi News Agency (MANA)

HRDC led by Timothy Mtambo accused PACPWA of being used by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to divert the attention of Malawians.

Government would like to inform the general public that no City, District or Town Council has granted permission to the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) to conduct demonstrations on Tuesday, 6th August 2019 and Wednesday, 7th August 2019 as intended by the organizers.

Further, Government has not lifted a police prohibition of the demonstrations in view of the extensive damage to property the previous ones have caused, and the police being overstretched in terms of capacity to manage the always violent protests.

The intended application by HRDC court to challenge the police prohibition was not heard by the court today, instead it shall be heard on the 19th August 2019.

Consequently, members of the general public are advised to take note of the fact that there is no permission at all for anybody to hold demonstrations on Tuesday and Wednesday. Any demonstrations that may be held shall amount to unlawful assemblies and will be dealt with as such by law enforcement.