Protest Politics and Culture

What took Bingu all this time? Arrogance?

2011-10-25T17:14:00.001+02:00

Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika who is the Chancellor of the University of Malawi (Unima), has directed that Chancellor College -the main constituent college of Unima -be opened and that the four lecturers who were fired for being at the centre of an academic freedom wrangle that has paralysed the university, should be reinstated.

Mutharika directed that Chancellor College Academic Staff Union (CCASU) acting President Dr. Jessie Kabwila-Kapasula, CCASU legal advisor Dr. Garton Kamchedzera, CCASU Secretary General Franz Amin and the man at the centre of the controversy, Dr. Blessings Chinsinga should be reinstated without any preconditions.

The announcement was made on state run broadcaster, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation on Tuesday afternoon.

In a statement released by the Office of President and Cabinet and aired during the mid-day news bulletin, Mutharika said he has been reviewing the closure of Chancellor College for more than eight months and feels that the shut down violates the right to education of the student.

Mutharika also repeated the reassurance of academic freedom but maintained denying that government has never placed any spies on any campus.

The statement also revealed that government has constituted a commissioned of enquiry to examine the saga, review the causes and make recommendations to create a conducive teaching/learning environment.

Reacting to the news, president of Polytechnic Academic Staff on Welfare (PASCOW) Griffin Salima said he hoped sanity will prevail at last

“This is what we have been waiting for, the mood here is happy…that is face value, and we are yet to digest the news,” Salima told Nyasa Times.

Marcia Melo tweeted: “Ambuye ndi Boss!!! Who knew this day would come??…when our hope would come alive once more….#Chanco”

But there has been anger as well as students and commentators have been asking why it took Mutharika all this time to review this simple matter.

“The result is Chanco 1- Bingu 0, Its all has been a case of arrogance and pride on the part of Bingu, I think he has re-opened the colleges because he fears that he might be booed at the Perth Commonwealth conference that he is going to,” said one commentator.

Efforts to contact the four proved futile but there is jubilation among the students of the college, many who had lost hope and enrolled with smaller institutions like Malawi College of Accountancy to pass time.

The opening date for Chanco has not been given.

Lecturers at Chancellor College, based in the eastern town of Zomba, downed their tools on February 16 four days after one of their number – political science associate professor Chinsinga – was summoned by Inspector General of Police Peter Mukhito over a class example.

Chinsinga had reportedly said the insurrections that toppled governments in Tunisia and Egypt are caused by policy failures like those that led to the fuel crisis in Malawi.

enough of the hard news, my personal question is: why did he had to go up to 10 months to see sense? is common sense really not this common? that students can languish, get STIs, unwanted pregnancies and affect the whole of the academic calendar while he sits at the statehouse enjoying the show?

And why are some quarters congratulating Mutharika over this? he had no choice, and i think the booing at College of Medicine showed him how unwanted he has become among the intelligentsia, and as an extension, what has caused his sudden change of heart? i thought when he met student leaders he was foaming and banging tables that as far as he is leader, the four remain fired? i agree with the source that said that he is afraid of getting into a scene at his planned Australia visit...

Long live genuine academic freedom, down with people that do not love Malawi, especially those that have never been to University of Malawi and want to settle scores with the institution....just imagine how the short-haired lady, J-K-K is rolling today? she should be sipping on some Hennessy, i bet it!

Salima steals show as Poly remembers its dead

2011-10-24T18:31:00.000+02:00

Griffin Salima, President of the Polytechnic Academic Staff Committee on Welfare (PASCOW) delivered a powerful moving speech this morning during the memorial service the college organised to remember the three students it has lost this last year.

The students who were being remembered are Justice Mwafulirwa (Education Business Studies, died 1^st April), Madalitso Kaunda (Environmental Health, died 26 May) and Robert Chasowa (Mechanical Engineering, Killed 24 September)

Clad in a red scarf symbolising the academic struggle the dons are currently battling, Salima didn’t even need to be in black to sound concerned, he galloped to the microphone looking like the rest of the speakers and then it happened...

Said Salima: “Someone here asked why the three had to die and since he could not find the answer on who should die instead, I have the answer: the young may die but the old must die, therefore it should have been somebody above 70 years.

“But don’t despair, great minds die young: Jesus died at 33, Napoleon died at 52 and Dunduzu Chisiza died at 32!

“We organised this memorial service oblivious of the fact that Poly had also lost two other students, we were motivated by the death of Robert Chasowa whose mysterious death still has many questions unanswered...but someone will have to answer one day.

“Where was Mr. Salima when Robert died, where was management when Robert died? Where were you his fellow students? Are you going to answer like Cain did after he killed his brother to say that you are not your brother’s keeper?

“Chasowa’s death got us thinking who would be next? It could be me, you will hear that am hanging in my office or it could be you next. But we refuse to be told to live by tribalism, we refuse to live by nepotism, we refuse to live by regionalism by those that don’t love Malawi.

“Those days when my parents languished in Zimbabwe for fear of political persecution are over, there is no other Malawi but this and it’s better to die here than outside.”

To cap it all, Salima asked the students to repeat after him in his conclusive chants which produced a deafening: “No to nepotism! No to Tribalism! No to Regionalism!” that was followed by a prolonged standing ovation.

Salima’s speech highlighted the ethnic consumption that is currently rocking the university. Ethnocentrism raised its ugly head back in March when some lectures [from the Southern Region] abandoned the academic freedom struggle labelling it a ‘witch hunting spree’ by lectures from the North and the Centre against the Lhomwe dominated government, a move that angered students who chased all lecturers from campus, breaking into and drinking beer in the senior common room and refused to back to class a move that caused the University Council to shut the college of fools day.

Polytechnic principal, Grant Kululanga, also spoke at the ceremony where he asked for the extension of God’s power onto the bereaved families of the students that had lost their lives. He said that the economy of a country surfers when student die. Kululanga’s sentiments echoed the Student’s Union President’s, Noel Mwenye, who also said that the three were bound to for greatness and oncourse to help in developing Malawi.

Other speakers included relatives and classmates of the dead who spoke highly of their friends. Justice Mwafulirwa was head of the Seventh Day Adventist Student’s Organisation, Chasowa was Poly FC captain, was in various church organisations and even dabbled in theatre and Madalitso was a confident activist of some reputation, breaking the norm to stand for the position student’s union president while only in second year.

The three dead join three other boys that lost their lives since December 2010 namely: John Banda (Electrical Engineering), Conrad Maulana (Environmental Science and Technology) and Sikweya (Environmental Health) this is addition to the fresh graduates Francis Fweta (Civil Engineering) and Innocent Mangira (Environmental Science and Technology).

Malawians take in Gadaffi‘s capture

2011-10-20T15:08:00.000+02:00

There is jubilation amongst Malawians as news from Sirte has it that Gaddafi was captured a while ago, with many people seeing it as a good omen for a hopeful Malawi which is undeniably becoming a new Libya.

Aljazeera is in fact reporting that he has been killed but the US state Department cannot independently confirm both the capture and the death of the deposed military leader of the oil rich nation.

Malawians over the cyber sphere are eager to see what this means for Malawi, already Zimbabweans are tweeting that Mugabe should be next and a few Malawians are saying that Malawi should be the next one since Bingu has become a Gadaffi of some reputation.

“It shows that the world is running out safe heavens for dictators. We have one in #Malawi,” said Jimmy Kainja, a passionate academician and blogger

Many University Students see it as a triumph for US greed with many saying that the capture means that America will easily swindle Libya’s oil; this view is also that of many of Gadaffi’s loyalists.

Steven Sharra, another blogger, when asked to comment on Gaddafi said: “They wanted him dead so top secrets would get buried with him. This is no justice”

All in all Malawians still see a bleak future ahead especially because many believe that the international community doesn’t care about countries with no oil a view shared by some Zimbabweans on twitter.

And as the picture of his capture gets clearer by the day, one wonders how Mutharika is swallowing the news as many people the latest and most vocal being the four arrested FDD activists, have been calling him dictator.

Arrest This Bashir Guy

2011-10-14T20:22:00.000+02:00

I thought I would be taking a break from active citizenship after i got death threats for being critical to the DPP-led government but with the way Malawi is going , its better to go by Taylor Swift's words: "Speak Now."

Just now The Brits have released a statement accusing Malawi of being a pariah for letting Sudan's wanted president to come in and go just like that...here is what the Foreign Office wrote on their website just hours ago:

Foreign Office Minister Henry Bellingham said:

“I am disappointed that Malawi hosted President Bashir of Sudan today (14th October) in defiance of International Criminal Court arrest warrants for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

“The British government expects the Government of Malawi to stand by its obligations under the Rome Statute, and as a UN member state. The Government of Malawi has committed itself to full cooperation with the ICC, and I reiterate the importance that the British government places on such commitments.

“We support the work of the ICC as an independent judicial body. All countries should cooperate with the ICC investigations in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions, and the particular legal obligations of States Party to the ICC. “

Is this Bashir guy not the one slaughtering black people in the Sudan? I mean why is Bingu behaving like Kamuzu Banda, who chose to rally with them apartheid pigs when the rest of Africa was trying to get the black skin some dignity down in RSA? Why?

The Document That Killed Robert Chasowa

2011-09-29T23:38:00.001+02:00

"Black Moses is answering sedition charges because of this here publication, Robert Chasowa was being sought and killed [my verdict] because of this here document. I have just taken the whole bit, verbatim... I do not intend to infringe any copyrights. its strictly journalistic. This is the sixth edition, it came out on Monday, Moses was arrested on Tuesday, Robert was killed on Saturday."

VOLUME No. 6A: THE YOUTH FOR FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY-19^TH SEPTEMBER, 2011

“A WEEKLY POLITICAL UPDATE”

1. We need an explanation- why the presidential jet was impounded in America

2. Mr. President-explain to us why should the Secretary for Treasury extort K16 Million from investors on behalf of DPP and you, your Excellency?

3. The Youth for Freedom and Democracy demands and explanation on how DPP gets its funds for its operations; for we have the information that government and its institutions are giving K30 Million each every month for its operations.

4. Youth for Freedom and Democracy have the information that Noel Masangwi and Mulli Brothers are giving the police money to cook-up evidence as to whom really torched or petrol bombed offices and McDonald Sembeleka’s house in Balaka.

5. The Youth for Freedom and Democracy are in touch with DPP-plan as to how the police will torture and coach culprits to give false information to cover –up the real culprits on the same.

6. Mr. President-explain to us why setting aside K40 Million to counter 21^st September, 2011 vigil demonstrations.

7. We in our organisation are ready to demonstrate and counter all your plans, but we are peace and good governance, thus why we are calling for peaceful vigil demonstrations on 21^st September, 2011

8. Mr. President as a youth organisation, we are in majority and we have a large following to stage up a real revolution but we are not the revolution, we simply urge you to address issues raised by the civil society organisations on 20 July 2011

9. The Youth for freedom and democracy have the information that you sent 2 army officers to America for trainings as plots for the presidential jet that the two (2) officers have been sent back by the US government-why Mr. President?

10. Mr President-explain to the people of Malawi on how you spent and used U$100 million you borrowed from PTA Bank for the purchase of petrol and diesel

11. Mr President-why should Paladin Africa a company which is mining uranium at Kayerekera be banking U$100,000 every month to your personal account in Australia-when Malawi is experiencing a cute shortage of forex

12. Mr President-why should Mulli-Brothers and Perks Ligoya the governor of the RBM own joint forex account in Dubai worth millions of dollars?

v Mr President, the things we do day will haunt us for years to come

v Mr President, you are leaving the office 2014 and in the Youth for Freedom and Democracy will definitely take you to account for the wealth you have accumulated on the expense of poor Malawians

v Mr President Sir, you will be arrested soon after leaving office in 2014 and we will be the stse witnessws on all issues of human rights abuses you have committed so far in Malawi

v Mr president-Malawians are demonstrating on Wednesday the 21^st September, 2011, we appeal to the conscious of your good office to respect their constitutional right, by sending the police to shoot and kill them

Malawi Moto!! Malawi Moto!! Malawi Moto!!

Together we shall build a strong economy and democratic society in Malawi

Cell: 0999 432 987 / 0888 432 987

0999 937 005 / 0999 595 378

0999 203 612

Police “interrogate” Poly registrar

2011-09-21T04:00:00.000+02:00

Nyasa Times Investigations reveal that three Policemen in civilian wear on Tuesday stormed The Malawi Polytechnic to question college administrators on the existence of a political pressure group, a move some students called illegal and contrary to the Kampala Declaration among other Laws granting academic freedom.

“They come to ask about the Youth for Freedom and Democracy (YFD) whose scathing publication The Weekly Political Update has already seen police arrest some of the YDF members,” said our source, “but this is exactly what caused the impasse at Chanco, universities are not police training grounds, they are a holy place.”

This comes a day after Police raided the home of 21 year old Black Moses, president of YDF whisking him away to an unknown location where he is apparently being question over the publication which is a one-paged numbered prose that uses critical language against Mutharika’s authoritarian rule.

The police came to the Poly because YDF has members at the campus and the move shows that the police are tracking owners of numbers that are on the publication.

In a separate incident, the college officials were also accused by Police of opening the college before September 21 so that the students should participate in the mass demonstrations. But one administrator shot down the allegation and called it “stupid,” pointing out that the opening date was selected and put on the academic calendar long before the Vigils were announced.

“Something is wrong with the police, they are suddenly interested in running universities now?” said the administrator.

This week’s 6^th edition of the ‘Political Update’ alleged that Mutharika has set aside K40 million to counter the September 21 slated mass acts against his administration.

The Monday paper also alleged that Mutharika has used the US$100 million he borrowed from PTA bank to buy fuel, that Kayerekera Uranium mine is depositing about K14 million to Mutharika’s account, that RBM’s Perks Ligoya and business tycoon Mulli jointly own a fat account in Dubai, that the presidential jet was briefly impounded in the US and that two army pilot trainees were sent back from America and that the secretary to the treasury has so far extorted K16 million from investors on DPP’s behalf.

“The YFD are in touch with the DPP plan of action as how police will use torture people to extract and coax some to give false evidence to cover up the petrol bombings of Sembereka’s house and IPI offices,” reads part of the document continuing to allege that Mulli brothers are funding police to cover up the crimes.

Asked how the group gets its info, the unmoved vice president said that his group has links going all the way to the inner sanctum of the DPP that smuggle information through another source [name withheld]

“We are the guys that revealed the names of the guys that burnt IPI offices, we are also the guys that broke the news that government had imported panga knifes for DPP youth ‘cadets,’ we are well connected,” said the source.

Police raid youth man’s home over revolutionary publication

2011-09-20T06:51:00.000+02:00

Mutharika’s campaign against dissent is certainly at its crescendo with the latest midnight raid on the house of one Black Moses, president of the fast rising Youth for Freedom and Democracy (YFD) publishers of the whistle-blowing- one-A4-paged publication called “The Weekly Political Update.”

Vice President of YDF, a University of Malawi student alerted Nyasa Times of the arrest which comes a day after a scathing 6^th edition of the publication which among other issues alleged that Mutharika has set aside K40 million to counter the September 21 slated mass acts against his administration.

The publication which employs all approaches one would expect from Kamplepo Kaluwa does not hide the authors, with the owners openly listing their numbers on it. This is what is raising fears that police have started smoking out the youths by tracking the phone numbers.

Black Moses, 21, was arrested at his home at Chikapa in Chirimba at around midnight and is being kept at Blantyre police; it is not known what charges he has been slapped with.

“We want the nation to know this, Moses is a political prisoner, all we do is write what we investigate and we write what we know is true.”

Why Civil Society Should Engage the Media

2011-09-10T00:52:00.000+02:00

The media can set the agenda, raise awareness on an issue and is used by the public to know complex issues. This piece will try to explain why civil society (CS) should involve the media in the light of the aforementioned media functions.

Firstly, since the media have the power to set the agenda for the populace, the CS can take advantage and use the media to champion their issues.

CSs are usually not popular with some governments or sectors. They can be arrested or harmed. If the media is in good relations with the activists, it can provide some security as governments fear bad publicity reaching donors, UN and regional partners.

It is cheaper for CS to deliver content to the public as news than via advertising. Adverts are easily ignored while news items are believed to a larger extent. Only a good relationship between CS and media will see CS campaigns being reported as news.

Some research indicates that the populace relies on the media to understand complex issues, the CS stands to gain if they use the media to explain issues and raise awareness to the public which is already looking up to the media.

Finally, Media sometimes promotes ills like genocide, violence, adultery and sustaining hegemony to name but a few. It would thus be very crucial that CS, which is usually fighting these ills, engages the very media to curb them.

CS, it can be concluded then, should engage the media as intensively as possible. (250)

The New Meaning of "Quantitative" and "Qualitative" in Research Methods

2011-09-09T15:04:00.000+02:00

Alan Bryman asserted that the terms “quantitative research” and “qualitative research” have come to denote more than just ways of gathering data and that the terms now represent divergent assumptions about the nature and purpose of research in the socials sciences. This term paper will argue for Bryman’s assertion and show agreement by proving that the two are more than just different ways of gathering data. This will be achieved by giving examples, comparing and contrasting the two research methods and logically and subjectively supplying arguments.

Research in general is any investigation intended at expanding human knowledge or to answer a question and to discover a previously unknown fact. There are two main ways of conducting research: quantitative research and qualitative research, though the likes of Bryman (1988) would add ‘mixed methods’ to this list.

Qualitative research, broadly defined, means "any kind of research that produces findings not arrived at by means of statistical procedures or other means of quantification" (Strauss & Corbin, 1990). This type of research focuses on words and meaning of the research subject. Methods employed in this type of research include focus groups, intensive interviews and direct observation.

Quantitative research on the other hand is conclusive in its purpose as it tries to quantify the problem and understand how prevalent it is by looking for projectable results to a larger population. Quantitative research relies of statistical analysis of subjects’ responses which are then used to generalize the results onto a bigger population.

The two research methods were initially regarded as just ways of gathering data, they were used interchangeably but scholars started to differ and what followed was the widening gap between the two such that these days, the mere mention of a research method tells of the underpinning philosophy of the research and researcher in addition the purpose of the research.

Qualitative research has its roots in constructivism or interpretivism where truth is not universal but rather relative and subject to time and place, an assumption that rejects the very hub of quantitative research which believes in positivism where the truth is universal as is in the physical sciences. This epistemological difference makes the main difference between the two methods.

Interpretivism charges that because positivists can measure a part and conclude about the whole, they stand to miss some elements of the phenomena it’s why the part itself has to be studied in detail.

The qualitative researcher will inductively make conclusions while the quantitative researcher will use induction this to say the quantitative researcher will make conclusion about the bigger population by examining a small sample (deductive reasoning). The qualitative researcher will only speak about what they are studying and dare generalise.

From the differences in the underlying philosophy it is evident that the two methods are a miles apart, as if that is not enough, the rift between the two methods has also been transferred to the purpose of research itself as Potter (1996) says: “...two scholars who hold different beliefs [paradigms] may be interested in examining the same phenomenon but their beliefs will lead them to set up their studies very differently because of their differing views of evidence, analysis and the purpose of the research.” (P.36, quoted in Dominick and Wimmer, 2006: 114-115)

The ultimate aim of qualitative research is to offer a perspective of a situation and provide well-written research reports that reflect the researcher's ability to illustrate or describe the corresponding phenomenon. One of the greatest strengths of the qualitative approach is the richness and depth of explorations and descriptions.

This difference in underlying philosophy between the two methods of collecting data has crept into the minds of researchers and academicians and consequently affected their perceptions of the two. Qualitative research is now confined to college halls while the industry is at peace with quantitative methods.

Since qualitative research usually doesn’t build on existing theory, it is left to academics who have to develop the theory after which, quantitative researchers who usually are advertisers and marketers come to build on the research to design quantitative research on the theory. (Creswell and Clark, 2007 quoted in Johnson, 2008)

Qualitative research requires the participation of the researcher, and the questions are unstructured and open such that the research focus can change anytime. This is not permissible in quantitative research where the researcher distances themselves from the research and the fact that the other method has a high chance of being tampered with by subjective intonations of the researcher has made qualitative research even more weak among many researcher and hence condemned to university corridors.

The development of the two research methods also backs the Bryman's 1988 assertion. Initially research was quantitative and it was in the areas of the physical sciences, when social scientists began developing they found it difficult to explain behaviour using quantitative means and thus qualitative methods were born. (Morgan, 1983 quoted in Charoenruk [no year])

This is an indication of the intended purpose; if the two were just ways of collecting data the earlier positivists could have developed qualitative methods. The fact that they were only developed after some vacuum was discovered means that they mean more than just data collection methods. It is a whole new way of researching not collecting data.

Despite some calls by the likes of Bryman that the dichotomy between qualitative and quantitative researchers is useless and that the mixed model should be championed after all, they argue, all research findings can be quantified or qualified, the two are very mutually exclusive as Dominick and Wimmer (2006) argue: “...although the methods maybe the same, however, the research goal, the research questions are quite different...” (p.115)

The two are so differentiated that they now represent two fronts: qualitative research is concerned with complex research questions of “how” and “why” and it deals with issues that seek to illustrate complex phenomena such as human behaviour; quantitative research on the other hand has come to be perceived as practical, asking questions such as “what” and “when,” simple and industry-friendly research that deals with simple question that attempt to describe group behaviour and to prove an existing theory.

For example it would be unheard of in some quarters to use qualitative research to try and find out the popularity of a radio program among a population, this because the question can best be answered by quantitative research. If the researchers then want to know why the program is popular they are ready to summon the qualitative guns.

By just hearing the two terms being mentioned, one knows what to expect. If it is qualitative, it probably is not an advertising or marketing question but rather in the field of ideology and similar abstract and complex areas.

Bryman himself conducted a survey in 2007 and found that his 1988 assertion was so deep rooted in researchers’ minds in the United Kingdom such that they couldn’t efficiently use the mixed methods model but rather chose between qualitative and quantitative according to their purposes and philosophical origins. (Bryman, 2007) this is proof that the two terms are now philosophies themselves, representing schools of thought among researchers and academicians.

In summary, therefore, in agreeing with the assertion by Bryman that the terms qualitative research and quantitative research now mean more than just ways of gathering data, the essay has exposed the philosophical differences, the purpose differences, the research questions variations and given examples of how the two are used today to confirm Bryman’s statement.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bryman, Alan (2007) Barriers to Integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Research (Journal Article) Volume 1, Number 1 of 2007: Journal of Mixed Methods Research. Downloaded from: http://www.pdfsearch .com

Dominick, R and Wimmer, R (2006) Mass Media Research: An introduction (8^th Ed) Sydney: Thomson Wadsworth

Gordon Marshall, (1998) (www document) Qualitative versus quantitative debate, retrieved from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O88-qualitativeverssqntttvdbt.html accessed: March 06, 2011

Holstein, James and Gubrium, Jaber, (2002) [www document] Qualitative Research Retrieved from: http://www.encyclopedia.com accessed: 3 Mar. 2011

Johnson, Kevin (2008) Comparing and contrasting quantitative research methods, Nova South Eastern University.

Mora, Michaela (2010) (www document) Quantitative vs. Qualitative research – When to use which, retrieved from: http://www.surveygizmo.com/survey-blog/quantitative-qualitative-research/ , on March 06, 2011

(No author) Qualitative research and the generalizability question: Standing firm with Proteus. Retrieved from: http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR4-3/myers.html accessed: 3 March 2011

Trochim, William (2006) (www document) The Qualitative Debate, retrieved from: http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/qualdeb.php , on March 06, 2011

Barack Obama - The Rootical Inspirational Mix

2011-08-06T01:52:00.000+02:00

Barack Obama - The Rootical Inspirational Mix

NGO's And Civil Society Call For ICC Investigations and Prosecution On July 20 Killings

2011-08-02T00:54:00.000+02:00

HUMAN RIGHTS CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE (HRCC), MALAWI CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS (MCTU ) , PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (PAC), CHURCH AND SOCIETY OF LIVINGSTONIA SYNOD, CHURCH AND SOCIETY NKHOMA OF SYNOD, CIVIC AND POLITICAL SPACE PLATFORM, THE CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF PEOPLE (CEDEP) AND CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND REHABILITATION (CHRR)

CALL FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC) FOR INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTE 20^TH JULY KILLINGS.

1^st August, 2011/Lilongwe Malawi

Press Statement

The Civil Society Organizations in Malawi which organized the 20^th July 2011 national demonstration would like to make a special call to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague to investigate and possibly prosecute His Excellency Professor Bingu wa Mutharika, Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Hon Aaron Sangala and Inspector General Of Police, Peter Mukhitho for crimes against humanity in respect to the death of 18 people and serious wounding hundreds of unarmed innocent people during the nationwide demonstration. This request is in line with the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Article 5 (1) (b).

We strongly submit that the arbitrary killing of the 18 unarmed demonstrators at the hands of the police is an indication of the unacceptable failure and negligence in our Police System in their duty to safeguarding the lives Malawians as enshrined in the Malawi constitution.

The Malawi Constitution in section 16 guarantees that “….every person has the right to life and no person shall be arbitrary deprived of his or her life….”

The same constitution of Malawi squarely puts the responsibility to safeguard and protect the lives and property of Malawians on the police.

Besides, section 153(1) of the Malawi constitution provides for “…….the protection of public safety and the rights of persons in Malawi according to the prescriptions …” of the same.

The organizing committee therefore fails to comprehend as to where the Police got the mandate to shoot and maim unarmed demonstrators, the very same people it is mandated to protect at all cost.

It is even more disturbing to note that even when the High Court in Lilongwe had lifted the court injunction restraining the demonstrations, some overzealous police officer went ahead to use force and live bullets to shoot at unarmed and peaceful demonstrators. This in direct contrast with the provision of the Malawi constitution which provides in Section 153(3) that “….in the exercise of their functions, members of the Malawi Police Service shall be subject to the direction of the courts and shall be bound by such orders of the courts….’

Contrary to this the Malawi Police service went ahead to detain, beat up severely leaders of the Civil Society Organizations, Political Party Leaders and journalists injuring Isaac Kambwiri and Amos Gumulira journalists working for the Capital Radio and The Nation Newspaper respectively.

Besides, just to vindicate our fears that the police is being used to perpetrate crimes against humanity, the Commander-in-Chief of the Malawi Police who is also the Sate President said-just two days after the killing of the 18 civilians during the pass out parade of police officer cadets-that he will ‘smoke out’ and deal with all those that organized the 20 July demonstrations.

Malawians especially those that have a contrary view to the ideas being advanced by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) led government have become a target of either the police of the DPP youth militias.

Innocent lives have been lost, people continue to live in constant fear of their lives and there is no any assuring words whatsoever from those that we have entrusted with protecting us to protection. The organizers of the 20 July have gone into hiding in fear of their lives.

Notwithstanding the above, we are of the view that the above account clearly constitutes crimes against humanity as provided in article 7 (1) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court proscribing the following:

(a) Murder; (18 have so far been confirmed dead)

(e) Imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law;

(f) Torture;

(k) Other inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to

body or to mental or physical health.

Government through the Presidency or Ministry of Home affairs and Internal security have either come in the open to either accept responsibility nor apologize nor offer some sort of compensation to the lives they arbitrary took from innocent people. Regrettably the Malawi Police Services themselves have issued a statement indicating that they only shot “looters” and they will not be investigating their own officers when they were duly carrying out their protective mandate.

Five days after the killings, wounding, there is neither any talk of instituting an independent investigation to “smoke out” whoever was directly or indirectly involved in shooting innocent people and possibly bring them to book. This only underlines that fact that, in the face of government, the innocent lives lost during the 20 July demonstrations is nothing but just a another statistic. It is also clear that there is unwillingness to investigate and prosecute the police officers who killed the innocent civilians which in accordance with article 17 of the Rome Statute clearly shows satisfaction of the admissibility issues and merits the intervention of the ICC.

Finally, we are also concerned of more violence as reprisals by the government through arbitrary arrests and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) youth cadets who the president called upon to protect him against those who criticize him. In line with all this, the Cadets have been issuing threats to people including riding a four-vehicle-convoy on the eve of the demonstration in the city of Blantyre brandishing machetes whilst singing that they will deal with anyone who criticize the president and government. The President and his ministers have also spoken of the need to “punish” the organizers of the demonstration and President Muthalika warned that NGO leaders will be “smoked out” of their hiding places including from their houses or caves. This shows a regime which is hatching plans to crack down on those who prepared the demonstration as well as those who participated.

In view of this the undersigned, therefore would like to call upon the ICC to come in and institute and investigation, prosecute and bring to book all relevant authorities who failed in their duties to safeguard the lives of the 18 people who died at the hand of the Police Service as well as 41 people who remained admitted in hospital. We have also attached various photos showing the events of July 20 as well as clearly showing the brutality of the Malawi Police Services.

Endorsed by:-

The Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC)

The Malawi Congress of Trade Union (MCTU)

The Public Affairs Committee (PAC)

Church and Society, Livingstonia Synod

Church and Society – Nkhoma Synod

Civic and Political Space Platform

Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR)

Centre for Development of People (CEDEP)

FROM CAPE TO CAIRO

2011-07-28T21:53:00.000+02:00

Gaze not at me in petty askance

Hold your greasy misgivings in abeyance

Ply first the highlands of the Berbers

Toasted, knitted with the Bedouin guitar rockers

Follow Nile to meet the Acholi

Spread wings flap in the face of Sahel herdsmen

Take your time; there is no hurry in Africa

Munch my chapatti to clear the Hashish you been on

Flee not from the egwugwu, the beastly masked man is my son

Brought your liniment to oil your waist after Rhumba at Kinshasa?

All-white party in Zanzibar, and gaudy clothing in the Masai land

Enter the Savannah the land of game and no sand

From elephants to ants via small rats

Learn the Swahili and Bemba while you can,

Get ready to be haunted by the clicks of Gauteng

Sashay along the beautiful lakes

Enjoy the sight of ladies at my beaches, Africa the land of no fakes

Of course you saw my babies fight

And the women clasping babies fleeing in fright

Nail me not for the daily woes I harbour

War, schisms and all my -isms

They are but my woes, don’t just laugh, help

I am Africa – from Cape to Cairo

Back to Blogging Ways...

2011-07-28T21:49:00.000+02:00

The blog was somehow hijacked and has been running articles related to the the 20 July Demonstration that took place in Malawi, but hey, no more of #redarmy #democracy now hash-tags...this is my blog and to stress that fact, i will be publishing three light poems...juts to stress that fact....the blog is mine!

2011-07-26T19:11:00.000+02:00

Statement From The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition

"Malawi is not alone, support for the July 20 Demos keeps streaming in, Vuwa, Ntaba and comopany stand alone!"

“If there is anything that we must learn from the upheavals going on in the northern part of our continent, it is that the legitimate expectations of the citizens of our countries cannot be taken for granted. We must, therefore, continue at the SADC level to consolidate democracy through the establishment of institutions that uphold the tenets of good government, respect for human rights and the rule of law.” - Zambian President, Ruppiah Banda

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (The Coalition) stands in solidarity with human rights activists, students, churches and the people of Malawi in their quest for the establishment of democratic institutions, good governance and poverty reduction in their country. Citizens of Malawi have been protesting since the 20th of July against rising poverty levels, lack of basic social services particularly water and electricity, mismanaging of the economy by the government and trampling of democratic freedoms.

The Coalition is concerned with the death of at least 19 innocent civilians during the protests, the firing of live ammunition at peaceful protesters by the police, deployment of military personnel to quell the protests, arrests of 275 people and utterances by the President of Malawi, Bingu waMutharika threatening to ‘smoke out’ organisers of the protests. This is not the first time that President Bingu waMutharika and his government have disrespected the rights of Malawian citizens. In 2009, his government arrested and later sentenced a gay couple to 14 years imprisonment under unclear homosexual charges. The couple was later granted pardon after the intervention of the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon.

The Malawian government should remember that it has a constitutional mandate to defend its people and their liberties. The continued abuse of power by the police and military and utterances by the President show the evident intolerance for civic freedoms by the Malawian government. It is important that the Malawian government bears in mind the fact that citizens have a legitimate right to protest against oppression and government excesses.

It is important that the Malawian government takes heed of the wise counsel from President Ruppiah Banda at the SADC Troika meeting held in Zambia in April 2011 that the demands and expectations of citizens should be respected. The Coalition further upholds the statement made by the Public Affairs Committee, one of the progressive forces in Malawi which said in a statement, ‘Bullets and tear gas have never triumphed over the will of the people’.

The Coalition thus calls upon the government of Malawi to;

1. Respect and uphold the rights of the citizens to show dissatisfaction with their government by staging non- violent protests

2. Desist from stifling the freedoms of its citizens by violently quashing the protests and threatening the organisers

3. Address the concerns of its citizens by taking measures towards proper management of government finances, poverty reduction and respect of fundamental freedoms particularly press and academic freedoms

4. Investigate and bring to book murderers of the fallen 19

5. Release the 275 people unjustly arrested and detained since the 20th of July 2011.

Botswana Opposition Leader Demands Apology From Khama For Hosting Mutharika

2011-07-26T18:43:00.000+02:00

"Statement by the Leader of Opposition, Botsalo Ntuane, to be delivered on

Tuesday 26 July 2011 in the National Assembly on developments in Malawi

and how the Botswana government should respond."

The Opposition Collective in the Parliament of Botswana joins the rest of the

democratic community in condemning the cold blooded massacre, on 20th and

21st July 2011 of 18 demonstrators by the government of President Bingu

wa Mutharika. This terrible act of violence against unarmed civilians,

protesting the escalating cost of living, fuel and foreign exchange shortages,

as well as repression and violation of human rights, is unprecedented in the

history of Malawi. We note that even during the one party dictatorship of

Hastings Kamuzu Banda, nothing on this scale was ever visited on the civilian

population by the government. The economic problems in Malawi which

precipitated the demonstrations have been authored by a stubborn President

Mutharika whose deteriorating human rights record has forced donors to cut

off much needed aid.

As the Opposition Collective, we can rightly proclaim we saw this coming.

The nation will recall that on 1 April 2011, the Chairman of the Botswana

Movement for Democracy(BMD) and also Member of Parliament for Lobatse

addressed a press conference in the precincts of Parliament announcing a

boycott of the official opening of the Lobatse Stadium facility by President

Mutharika. Hon Modubule’s stance which reflected the indignation of the

Opposition Collective was premised on well founded concerns at a disturbing

trend of developments in Malawi.

In a pattern of behaviour which suggested that state violence will soon be

perpetrated against the citizenry, President Mutharika has in the past incited the

youth cadres of his Democratic Progressive Party to assault opposition

supporters who dared criticize him. Another consideration which informed our

boycott of President Mutharika was his display of intolerance to critical views,

when he assented to Section 46 Penal Code Amendment Bill which grants the

Minister for Information the power to arbitrarily close down publications, outside

due process. To us this assault on the press, which we consider a critical

guardian of democracy and good governance was unacceptable.

The delinquent conduct of President Mutharika knows no bounds. We noted

with concern the sustained attacks on the Non Governmental Organisations,

leading to some activists fleeing into exile because they fear for their lives.

Like the proverbial bull in a china shop, immediately after his departure from

Botswana, President Mutharika expelled the ‘British High Commissioner for

describing him in a diplomatic cable as ‘autocratic and intolerant of criticism”

We contend that President Mutharika is being aided and abetted in his

campaign of repression by the government of Botswana which continues to

treat him like a distinguished statesman when many in the international

community are shunning him. It should be a source of shame that President

Khama, in a display of bad judgment, and against our counsel, invited this

dictator to our country. In its unbridled contempt for the Opposition, this

government disregards all our advice, the consequence of which is a

situation where our country is today associated with rogues like President

Mutharika. It is shocking to many that a government with a predilection for

playing to the international gallery on issues of democracy and human rights

has remained silent in the face of the unfolding tragedy in Malawi. To us this

silence means the government of Botswana condones the deplorable actions

of President Mutharika.

We pose this question, how different is President Mutharika from Muammar

Gadaffi in Libya, Bashar Al Assad in Syria, Omar Al Bashir in Sudan, and all the

other dictators that have attracted the sanctimonious wrath of the Botswana

government over rights violations and atrocities against their own citizens?

The deafening silence, which can only be ascribed to the embarrassment felt by

the Botswana government, amounts to a betrayal of the people of Malawi,

particularly victims of the state sponsored violence. Indeed contrary of the

grandstanding characterizing previous statements about how the Botswana

government sides with the people against repressive regimes, the simple truth

is that these expressions of support are mere lip service; and just like those it

condemns, the Botswana government practices double standards, and will side

with its friends in power, hence the tacit support given to President Mutharika on

account of the ‘see no evil, hear no evil’ posture.

To this end the Parliamentary Opposition Collective demands the

following from the Botswana government;

1. An unequivocal statement condemning the actions of the government of

President Mutharika.

2. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon Phandu Skelemani to summon the

High Commissioner of Malawi to Botswana for a meeting at which he will

convey the statement of condemnation.

3. To demand an immediate end to the ongoing harassment , detention and

torture of opposition and civil society activists; many of whom are now

in hiding.

4. To support an investigation by the International Criminal Court on the

killings in Malawi, and for such support to be extended to prosecutions

that will follow.

5. To apologise to both the people of Botswana and Malawi for hosting

President Mutharika in April 2011.

6. To undertake to listen to the counsel of the Opposition Collective in

future and undertake not to invite any dictators to Botswana.

Failure to do any of the above will give true meaning to the idiom that we

judge you by the company you keep. Batswana and the international

community should henceforth judge this government by the friends it keeps

in the form of President Mutharika and his murderous regime.

End.

Protest Politics and Culture: Here Is What Bingu Has Been Given Today (Draft Pet...

2011-07-26T18:20:00.000+02:00

Here is the Petition that protesters in Malawi gave to their leader, if things don't change the country is going to hold massive protests to oust the leader!

The Ultimate or Detestable Red Soldier?

2011-07-22T11:49:00.005+02:00

During the July 20 demos in Malawi, people came out to the streets to protest various issues but this one was the ultimate protester, in a country where the whole nation almost agrees to be homophobic, this guy put on this T-shirt and was not moved at all...

Britain Warns Mutharika On Violence

2011-07-21T20:39:00.000+02:00

Of course Britain might be angry at the loss of domain (and trade?) after Malawi sent its top diplomat packing but this statement from the Foreign Office Minister, Henry Billingham, is well intended, me thinks...

Mutharika delivered his shambles earlier today and only managed to call protesters “satanic” and he also threatened that he “knew those who were behind the demos”...typical of the likes of Assad, Mubarak and Libya’s embattled colonel

Henry Billingham said:

“The ongoing violence and reprisals by elements connected to President Mutharika’s Democratic Progressive Party underline the concern that the UK has expressed about the state of democratic governance and human rights in Malawi. This situation is extremely worrying and I offer my sincere condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives. I urge all parties to show restraint.

“The rights of free assembly and expression guaranteed under the Malawian Constitution must be respected. The UK utterly condemns the threatening behaviour of machete wielding DPP activists and the violent attacks on demonstrators and the media. I call on President Mutharika to rein in the security forces and elements of his party, and to allow the media to report freely on the situation in the country. Any attacks or reprisals against demonstrators, opposition leaders or the media are absolutely unacceptable.”

Meanwhile all eyes will be on Benghazi, I mean Mzuzu, the capital city of Northern Malawi as the 7 or so, who died in the protests will be buried...we might not have Imams to instigate us but with the Livingstonia Synod (Mutharika’s clear cut enemy) ripe in that city, am expecting fireworks...God have mercy.

Meanwhile today was a good day for most of the cities...I can’t speak for others but the part of Blantyre that I live was very calm and nowhere near tense...I even went out shopping!

20 July Photos

2011-07-20T20:26:00.000+02:00

I spent the rest of 20 July running with the crowd and eking out pix, here is what i got from the demos: its on my Facebook and the profile is open

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2121640594260.123273.1043167958

or

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2121639034221.123272.1043167958

tag away...share...no copyright....

Here Is What Bingu Has Been Given Today (Draft Petition In Full)

2011-07-20T20:23:00.000+02:00

POOR ECONOMIC AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN MALAWI

“Uniting to Resist Poor Economic and Democratic Governance

“A Better Malawi Is Possible”

CONCERNS & RECOMMENDATIONS

In legitimate exercise of the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi, We, Members of Civil Society have joined hands with Workers, Faith Communities and Concerned Citizens from all walks of life, to hold peaceful country-wide mass demonstrations today, the 20^th July 2011 upholding the theme: “Uniting for Peaceful Resistance Against Poor Economic and Democratic Governance – “A Better Malawi Is Possible”. These demonstrations are part of a series of nation-wide mass actions that will continue to respond to such crises until feasible solutions have been found and implemented.

Malawi is currently facing a series of catastrophes on multiple fronts due to economic mismanagement and democratic derogation by the incumbent leadership and administration. The current leadership and administration continue to disregard caution and advice regarding the crises, choosing to engage in empty political rhetoric without providing any actionable solutions or alternatives. Any dissenting or alternative views result in adversarial clamp downs, a practice that is unacceptable within the current democratic dispensation that we all fought hard for and are prepared to defend at all costs.

The challenges currently facing Malawi are too numerous to mention, however the following issues may suffice to demonstrate the cause of our discomfort;

Acute Foreign Exchange (Forex) Shortages

Malawi has experienced acute shortage of foreign exchange for over 2 years, with no end in sight. Indeed, there is cause to believe that the current shortages are the worst in all our 47 year history since the attainment of independence.

Significant numbers of people scramble in queues for forex that may be available at any foreign exchange point, in a pathetic display of fruitless desperation.

The acute shortages have had many consequences such as:

· scarcity of products and services due to difficulties in importation of essential products;

· Malawians who utilise foreign currency have searched in vain:

◦ to pay expenses when travelling abroad,

◦ when purchasing products which are not produced locally,

◦ to send school fees for dependants studying abroad,

◦ to pay for examination fees to foreign education providers;

◦ when accessing treatment for vital medical facilities;

Numerous reasons, such as poor tobacco sales (which used to provide 74% of our forex inflow has dwindled by over 70%), have been forwarded to explain the shortage of forex in Malawi, but these show a clear divide between advice from economic experts and rhetorical defences from the current leadership and its administration and, in so doing, merely serve to increase confusion and uncertainty.

However, one fact remains indisputable and that is: the forex crisis continues to escalate and the current administration has failed to demonstrate the ability to reverse the situation any time soon.

Acute Fuel Shortage: Malawi is now labelled as a ‘fuel queue nation'

This year has seen the most acute fuel shortages in Malawi in 47 years of independence. A common scene that greets the eyes at every filling station is extremely long queues of cars, with people waiting for hours or even, days to get access to a few litres of fuel.

The acute and incessant fuel shortages have caused shrinkages in transportation which limit people travelling. Service providers are unable to transport products around the country, leading to shortage of products and services. Stocks in supermarket and grocery shelves are gradually dwindling. Critical services such as health services have not been spared and workers face a daily struggle in commuting between workplace and home. Freight hauliers have been severely constricted and more disaster looms if the status quo remains unchecked. All these are visible signs of economic regression which, if not checked immediately, could result in a total breakdown.

Reasons provided by the current administration regarding the causes to the fuel shortage have been unsatisfactory and at times embarrassingly derisive. There has been a clear divide and at times contradiction in reasons provided by the Petroleum Importers Limited, the Ministry responsible and the Leadership. However most people will agree that the current leadership and its administration has not demonstrated to the nation the ability to reverse the dismal situation any time soon and the resultant sense of uncertainty merely serves to intensify the sense of doom and gloom afflicting the nation.

Electricity Shortages

Never has Malawi suffered more from acute electricity shortages in all its 47 years of independence than within the past 2 years despite the fact that, after all these years, only 6% of the population had access to electricity.

The recent announcement by ESCOM that power cuts will be implemented for 8 hours everyday for the rest of the year have only increased the sense of despair amongst the people who cannot lead normal daily lives without fear of blackouts.

Industries are hard hit with insufficient power to enable optimal production of vital products which may even substitute imports. Work-flow is constantly interrupted by equipment switching off intermittently. Huge costs are incurred in repairing equipment that have been damaged by power fluctuations and the cost of installing massive generators in an effort to keep going. Indeed, a classic example is the failure of ESCOM to guarantee supply of adequate power to Paladin for processing uranium at Kayelekera thereby necessitating installation of massive diesel generators, which need 3000 litres per day to ensure production – this meant that ESCOM lost out on potential extra business of millions of Kwacha every month due to its own inefficiency and incapacity to be innovative.

It is apparent to most that the current leadership and administration has not demonstrated to the nation that they can reverse the situation any time soon in spite of the need for tangible solutions. There should be a clear time frame as to when the problem will be over. As it remains, the energy drain remains a pain without any solution in sight.

Lack of Economic Prudence

The current leadership and administration has continued to excessively and irresponsibly squander public funds without consultation and with cavalier disregard for current economic hardships afflicting the populace created by the mismanagement.

The list of anomalies lengthy, but some major issues include the following:-

· In 2010, the President secretly authorised the purchase of a private jet costing US$13 million - equivalent to half the budgetary support that Malawi's major donor contributed. The purchase went on regardless of condemnation from different stakeholders within Malawi and beyond. The amount spent was equivalent to annual salaries of approximately 5,000 nurses or approximately 11,555 primary school teachers. The infamous Presidential Jet remains a sore point since it appears to have no place in an impoverished country like Malawi which must cater to other priorities such as combating poverty and illiteracy before succumbing to consumerist luxuries..

· Since the first Cabinet of 29 Ministers in 2004, the size of the current Cabinet has grown to 41, leading to a monthly wage bill of over MK15,000,000.00, which would fund monthly salaries of 428 nurses or 1,000 primary school teachers. It is important to note that this Cabinet of 41 also includes Deputy Minsters who, in most cases, have been awarded the position as a reward for political favours and not on merit. Thus these Deputy Ministerial positions could easily be vacated without any loss in efficacy;

· At the beginning of 2011, the President secretly awarded a contract to his wife, the First Lady, Callista Mutharika, leading to a payment in arrears, of MK6,400 400 for the period before the contract was signed, and subsequent salary of MK1,300,000 per month – ostensibly for doing charity work. The contract coincidentally expires at the expiry of term of office of President in 2014 and was pushed through despite condemnation from various sectors of society. The First Lady's salary is equivalent to monthly salaries for 30 nurses or 93 primary school teachers.

· The contract for the construction and management of the (in)famous Nsanje Inland Port was awarded in a non transparent and dubious manner to Mota Engil, a foreign construction company who appears to enjoy presidential favour. The same company is rumoured to have built a palace at Ndata Farm (the President’s personal estate) and has now won a concession for oil and gas drilling in the Lake.

Regardless of the above manifestations of economic imprudence, Government shamelessly offered lame justifications to exonerate themselves whilst indulging personal avarice without due regard for public responsibility.

Corruption and Abuse of Power

There are strong suspicions that this leadership and administration is condoning corruption and abuse of power by a 'favoured few'.

Recently, the Malawi Housing Corporation sold houses to selected staff, Cabinet Ministers, and DPP officials at grossly reduced prices, leading to a net loss of over MK100 million. The leadership and administration remain quiet and the Anti Corruption Bureau appears unable to investigate further thereby giving rise to fears of officialdom turning a blind eye to such misdemeanours.

During his 2 terms of office, the current President appears to have amassed significant wealth that does not tally with his salary of approximately MK 2,000,000 per month. Within 3 years of being power in 2007, Mutharika purchased land in Thyolo at an alleged price of MK 70 million. He then proceeded to develop part of the land at an exorbitant cost which requires clear explanation to allay suspicion.

Massive corruption appears to be the order of the day. Malawians witness a few individuals in Government who have amassed massive wealth at public expense. These individuals build expensive houses, owning fleets of cars and indulge openly in displays of fabulous opulence that seems to have accrued without a visible source. The Government may be aware of this but no visible steps are being taken to stop such malpractices or to recover wealth gleaned in such dishonest manner.

Disrespect of the Rule of Law

The current leadership and administration has tended to exhibit deliberate disregard of the Constitution and the rule of law.

Amid public condemnation, the current leadership and administration abused its majority in Parliament to pass an amendment to Section 46 of the Penal Code allowing the Minister for Information to ban publications 'deemed to be contrary to the public interest'. This law has taken Malawi backwards in terms of guaranteeing media freedoms contained under chapter VI of the Constitution.

Again, amid widespread public condemnation, the current leadership and administration has abused its majority in Parliament to pass the Civil Procedure (Suits By Or Against The Government or Public Officers) (Amendment) Bill, 2010 otherwise popularly known as the infamous 'Injunctions Bill', which denies supplicants the right to instant relief when their rights are under threat by any Government agency or officer. The President recently assented to the bill notwithstanding massive public outcry, condemnation, a revolt amongst DPP MPs in Parliament and a court injunction against the assent of the bill

Apart from the bills cited above, the Government passed the Police Act which empowers the Police to search any house without a search warrant, the Pensions Bill, the Local Courts Bill (previously known as the infamous Traditional Courts), a Constitutional amendment on timing and methodology of Local Government Elections, and the Protected Names, Flags and Emblems bill which changed the national flag at huge cost whilst dismissing widespread protest as drunken ravings.

Local Government Elections

It goes without saying that the current leadership and administration is simply not interested in conducting Local Government elections.

Since election into power, there have been deliberate efforts to avoid or interrupt the holding of local Government elections in Malawi. Recently the Electoral Commission was closed (with a questionable abuse of power) on allegations of massive fraud involving huge sums of money. The Government consequently reopened the Commission without any official explanation on the outcome of their initial investigations. The administration is now attempting to amend the law to allow for local Government elections to be held after the expiry of their term of office thereby giving rise to profound suspicion that something is being covered up.

In addition, new appointments will soon be made to the Commission and these are already raising alarm signals due to the candidates being considered and the opacity of the process. The neutrality and very integrity of the Commission may be compromised irrevocably in the public eye if the matter is not handled with extreme transparency.

In any case, it is quite obvious that the current administration will not hold local Government elections these 2 terms of office, despite any constitutional requirements to the contrary.

The University of Malawi Crisis

The current leadership and administration has failed to resolve the current stalemate between the University Council and its 2 constituent colleges (Chancellor College and Polytechnic) despite all the effort and posturing.

For over 100 days, the leadership and its administration has remained adamant in refusing to recognise legitimate demands by the academic staff unions from the 2 constituent colleges, leading to an unnecessary standoff. This has cost students valuable learning time and disrupted the general academic calendar.

This can easily be described as the worst crisis in the history of the University of Malawi, but it has evolved as such largely due to the intransigence and truculence of the Establishment which takes its lead from the Head of State in adopting inflexible stances that militate against all effort at conciliation.

Political Intolerance and Violence

The current leadership and administration appears of late to be leaning towards tactics that promote violence and intolerance against critics and those with differing views:

· During the 2 terms of office, the President has deliberately demonised his Vice Presidents, thereby deliberately weakening their offices which are enshrined in the Constitution. The failure to work with Vice Presidents has seriously disrupted the role of the Office of the Vice President in the performance of governmental duties;

· In recent times, the President has deliberately crippled the office of the Vice President based on personal grudges and differing views. This year, the budget of the Office of the Vice President was significantly reduced to a pittance. The President continues to castigate the Vice President in public rallies, calling her names whilst she continues to hold her peace.

This issue appears to emanate from the thorny question of succession – i.e. who will take the office if the President is incapacitated? The Constitution gives that role to the Vice President and this apparently is the root of the problem because the President wishes to choose his own successor and is unable to do so whilst the Vice President is in place.

· This year, the President instructed the ruling DPP party youth cadets to 'protect him' as a response to widespread criticism on his governance style. The instruction was followed by the DPP leaders publicly stating that they will use 'all possible means' to protect their leader. Since that instruction, some Civil Society leaders who have previously spoken on various issues have been attacked or received threats, leading to general fear and terror. Experts have cautioned that such public remarks by leaders have potential to lead to violence or conflict thereby creating a 'culture of fear' that is becoming more visible by the day.

· There are many indications that the current leadership does not accept any criticism or dissenting views. Those who have dissenting views, within the ruling party or generally, are destined to face violence or adversity in one way or another. This has led to fear among institutional heads or ruling party officials which prevents them from offering alternative views that may run contrary to the Party line.

· Following a leaked cable in which the British High Commissioner confidentially described challenges facing Malawi for the Foreign Office in London, the President took the unprecedented step of deporting the British Envoy from Malawi back to the UK. This contributed to the deportation of the Malawi envoy from the UK and subsequent withdrawal of the British contribution to the Malawi budget (30%). This serves a vivid testimony of the sheer arrogance of our leadership who can throw out a relationship that has nurtured and supported Malawi for nearly 50 years at the drop of a hat – regardless of the cost to the Nation in general and the poorest sectors of society in particular.

· When civil society were organising a 'bicycle march' demonstration regarding fuel crises facing the country, the current leadership and administration threatened to prevent the planned demonstration. To obstruct Malawi citizens from exercising their rights to demonstrate, the leadership attempted to introduce prohibitive monetary deposits as a requirement prior to holding mass demonstrations. During the current mass demonstration, there are already reports of the leadership threatening to disrupt the mass action by mobilising rabble rousers to disturb the march.

Recommendations

In summary, we conclude that the current leadership and administration has failed to convince us that the issues raised will be resolved or reversed anytime soon. As such, we would only be convinced otherwise when concrete and actionable solutions with short term time frames and deadlines are proposed.

In light of the raised selected issues, we demand the Government to take the following steps:

· Sell the Presidential jet and minimise all foreign trips by the Head of State;

· Ban all importation of luxury cars (M/benz, Limousines and Luxurious 4x4s). Any new cars for the President, Ministers or State Officials must reflect our impoverished state and should thus not be as ostentatious as in the past;

· All foreign trips by Ministers and State officials must be severely curtailed forthwith;

· Superfluous costs such as the new 'eavesdropping' machine being installed at a cost of US$6 million at MACRA merely to assuage creeping paranoia in an unconstitutional manner must be discontinued and reversed forthwith;

· Zimbabwe must immediately repay the US$20 million that has long been outstanding for food supplied by Malawi. The payment can be made in cash or in fuel;

· Scrutinise all fertiliser imports for the previous year to track the fairness of the pricing – all those who have inflated their costings must be brought to book and penalised for the full amount of overpricing as well as harsh penalties for committing the crime.

· Scrutinise all fuel imports for overpricing practices and bring the perpetrators to book. All forex gained through such malpractices must be returned to Malawi immediately;

· Massive fuel importers such as Paladin (usage: 3,000 litres diesel per day) must use their own forex reserves to bring in their fuel and should not drain Malawi's scarce reserves;

· Allow independent importation of fuel by any entrepreneur who has the means – this will break the stranglehold monopoly of PIL and open the market for free competition;

· Paladin's exports of 'yellow cake' must be checked to ensure that a fair market price is being charged and the proceeds are being brought back to Malawi without any transfer pricing;

· Gemstone exports must be monitored closely by trained experts to ensure that fair values are being declared. Malawi may have been short changed for decades in this area due to lack of capacity and negligence;

· It may be necessary, in the short term, to listen to the IMF and devalue our currency in order to gain their approval which would then open the doors for other Donors to come in and pump much needed forex into our flagging economy. The inflationary aspects of this can be countered by other anti inflationary measures.

· It is essential to immediately mend fences with our long term development partners, the British Government by apologising for the diplomatic faux pas and making amends. Their contribution to our economy is too significant to shrug off with cavalier disdain – especially when it means that the poorest sections of society will be worst afflicted by the suspension of British aid.

· The bloated Cabinet must be trimmed to 14 members and their fuel and air time allowances adjusted to reasonable levels with immediate effect;

· The newly approved MK 1 million monthly allowance for each Member of Parliament must be revised downwards to a reasonable level with immediate effect;

Time frame

We hereby propose that:

1. Within 1 month; adopt measures and actions so that there is availability of and access to forex.

2. Within 1 month; adopt special measures to avail adequate forex to Petroleum Importers Limited and other suppliers so that they are able to import fuel without interruption.

3. Within 1 month; the ESCOM board and top management should be replaced with independent experts who, within 3 months, must demonstrate that the acute electricity shortages have begun to reverse.

In addition, form a consultative forum which solicits input from all stakeholders who may have valuable information, ideas and new concepts with which to tackle the issues of capacity and cost of power generation;

4. Within 1 month, The Anti corruption Bureau should commence an investigation of all people implicated in the recent Malawi Housing house sale scandal.

5. The Anti Corruption Bureau should start investigating ALL Cabinet Ministers and public servants on the unexplained wealth that some seem to have accumulated whilst holding office. The Penal Code calls upon all citizens to explain the source of their wealth, all moneys stolen should be returned.

6. Within 1 month; The President should fully declare his assets, explaining sources of funds to acquire and develop Ndatha farm.

7. Within 1 month; The First Lady's contract should be nullified and all earnings refunded back to Government.

8. Within 1 month; Law Commission should set up a special law commission to revisit the Penal Code and the Injunctions Bill, which should lead to submission of recommendations within 3 months.

9. Within 1 month; The President should demonstrate good faith towards the Office of the Vice President, starting by returning her official motorcade.

10. The Government should commit to hold Local Government Elections by end of this year.

11. The University Council should immediately reinstate the four lecturers dismissed during the academic freedom stalemate, and issue a statement committing that no spies will be allowed in lecture rooms.

12. Within 1 month; The deported British High Commissioner should return to resume his duties in Malawi.

13. Within 1 month; Issue a circular nullifying the instruction to require a deposit of MK 2, 000,000 for mass demonstrations.

Failure to meet any of these demands will further support our stand that the current leadership and administration cannot govern this country in an equitable and democratic manner and that our fear of regressing into an autocratic kleptocracy is valid. We hope to be proven wrong and pray for a transformation that will set the ship of Malawi onto its rightful course for the benefit and wellbeing of all Malawians.

A Better Malawi is Possible!!

Viva Democracy Viva!!!

20^th July 2011

Blantyre Good to Go! We Got Us Clearance!

2011-07-19T21:09:00.000+02:00

Ronald Maloya, one of the Blantyre organizers has just brought me a copy of the letter from Blantyre City Assembly which has authorized the demos in Blantyre! Its signed by the CEO, Ted Nandolo himself.

I also have it on good authority that Mutharika has issued a decree stopping the pro-DPP marches, we thus have a clear path, people…we starting at Blantyre DC’s Office but if you arrive at Clock Tower, you will be directed.

At Poly preps are advanced, I passed two red fliers under each room and students are upbeat…

The demos have been given a nod on several conditions:

 That two names be put as sureties

 That the demo organizers address the masses before setting off

 That police inspect the contents of the placards

 That marshals be chosen to work with police on security

 No weapons

Demos will start from Old Police Ground (near Old Town Hall) to Civic Offices via Victoria Avenue, Mahatma Gandhi Road and Kenyatta Drive…the DC will receive the petition at Civic Offices…we will then go via Soche to Upper Stadium where speeches and dispersing will follow.

They say we cannot go to Sanjika because it violates Section 103 of the Police Act

Tell one and all that all the rumors of war and strife and clashes are a fluke and a hoax…the police commissioner himself has been assuring the organizers that all is going to be well; after all they have gotten the letter from the City assembly that we are marching tomorrow.

Remember there will be nurses, doctors and lawyers standing by…come out Blantyre, let’s shame the devil.

20 July Demos Just Got Bigger, Zomba & All Districts Now In - Blantyre Route Changed Agian

2011-07-17T21:38:00.003+02:00

On The 20^th July, 2011 National Peaceful Demonstrations

This is to inform all Malawians and various stakeholders that we members of the Civil Society and concerned citizens have organised peaceful demonstrations to take place on 20^th July 2011 in all the four regions namely: Southern, Eastern, Central and Northern Regions and all Districts from Nsanje to Chitipa.

The peaceful demonstrations have been organized as part of our constitutional right to express alarm regarding the current economic and democratic crises facing Malawi, with the aim of calling for an end to the current poor economic and democratic governance being advanced by the current administration.

The Theme of the Demonstrations is: Uniting For Peaceful Resistance Against Bad Economic and Democratic Governance – “A Better Malawi Is Possible”

Outline of the Demonstrations is as Follows:-

Southern Region

Starting point: - Start from the Clock Tower in Blantyre thence to the Blantyre District Commissioner's Office to deliver a petition to the DC and ending at the gates of Sanjika Palace where another petition would be delivered for the attention of the State President.

We are calling all Malawians from Ndirande, Chilomoni, Chilobwe, Bangwe, Zingwangwa, Machinjiri, Mbayani, Chileka, Ludzu, all areas and locations to join the demonstration on 20^th July.

Eastern Region: - Demonstrations will be conducted in Zomba City and we are calling Malawians from all Matawale, Chinamwali, Nsazi, Itiya, Ndola, St Marys, Chikanda, Mpondabwino and other areas and location to come and join this peaceful demonstration.

Central Region

Starting Point: - From Community Centre Ground through Old Town then Kasungu Highway then to City Centre where speeches will be made.

We are calling all Malawians from Area 25, Kawale, Biwi, Mchesi, Chinsapo, Area 23, 33, 49, 39, Bunda, Likuni,Mugona ,all Areas and Locations to join the demonstration on 20^th July.

Northern Region

Starting Point: - From Katoto Ground through Town to City Assembly Office where a Petition will be presented.

We are also calling on all Malawians from Zolo Zolo, Katawa, Chiwanja, Mzilawayingwe, Chasefu , all Areas and Locations to join the demonstration on 20^th July.

District Demonstrations: - Malawians demonstrating in districts we appeal to you to convene at one place and March to the Office of the District Commisioner to present a Petition.

Colour: - We are appealing to all Malawians to put on anything RED on 20^th July wherever they are for this peaceful demonstration.

If you cannot join and you are a Chief Executive, Managing Director, or any other Officer , or working in the Police, Army, and if you are a Civil Servant please release your house servant/gardener on this day of 20^th July.

If you are not going to join the March can you whistle, hoot you CAR and beat drums wherever you are while dressed in RED.

And as a silent protest STOP watching Malawi Television and listening to MBC as it is a source of misinformation, hatred and division against peaceful Malawians.

Note: This is a peaceful demonstration and we would appeal to all Malawians to be DISCIPLINED during these national wide demonstrations. Lets us show the authorities that much as they are oppressing and victimizing us we are peaceful and responsible Citizens.

This is your chance to make the difference by being heard and be counted on 20^th July. Starting time is 8 :00 in the morning

Lastly we sincerely thank the Business Community, Government Officials, Democratic Peoples Party Officials, the Police, Army, City, Local and District Assemblies for the support and understanding and we look forward to successful and peaceful demonstrations.

COME ONE! COME ALL!

“A BETTER MALAWI IS POSSIBLE”

VIVA DEMOCRACY!

VIVA STRUGGLE AGAINST OPPRESSION AND DICTATORSHIP!

Change Of Demo Route For BT, Plus Demos Now To Cover Whole Malawi

2011-07-15T03:54:00.000+02:00

"Dear Readers, Note That Blantyre Route Has Changed"

On The 20^th July, 2011 National Peaceful Demonstrations

This is to inform all Malawians and various stakeholders that we members of the Civil Society and concerned citizens have organised peaceful demonstrations to take place on 20^th July 2011 in all the four regions namely: Southern, Eastern, Central and Northern Regions and all Districts from Nsanje to Chitipa.

The Theme of the Demonstrations is: Uniting For Peaceful Resistance Against Bad Economic and Democratic Governance – “A Better Malawi Is Possible”

Outline of the Demonstrations is as Follows:-

Southern Region

Starting point: - Start from the Clock Tower in Blantyre thence to the Blantyre District Commissioner's Office to deliver a petition to the DC and ending at the gates of Sanjika Palace where another petition would be delivered for the attention of the State President.

We are calling all Malawians from Ndirande, Chilomoni, Chilobwe, Bangwe, Zingwangwa,Machinjiri, Mbayani, Chileka, Ludzu, all areas and locations to join the demonstration on 20^th July.

Central Region

Starting Point: - From Community Centre Ground through Old Town then Kasungu Highway then to City Centre where speeches will be made.

We are calling all Malawians from Area 25, Kawale, Biwi, Mchesi, Chinsapo, Area 23, 33, 49, 39, Bunda, Likuni,Mugona ,all Areas and Locations to join the demonstration on 20^th July.

Northern Region

Starting Point: - From Katoto Ground through Town to City Assembly Office where a Petition will be presented.

We are also calling on all Malawians from Zolo Zolo, Katawa, Chiwanja, Mzilawayingwe, Chasefu , all Areas and Locations to join the demonstration on 20^th July.

District Demonstrations: - Malawians demonstrating in districts we appeal to you to convene at one place and March to the Office of the District Commisioner to present a Petition.

Colour: - We are appealing to all Malawians to put on anything RED on 20^th July wherever they are for this peaceful demonstration.

This is your chance to make the difference by being heard and be counted on 20^th July.

COME ONE! COME ALL!

“A BETTER MALAWI IS POSSIBLE:”

VIVA DEMOCRACY!

VIVA STRUGGLE AGAINST OPPRESSION AND DICTATORSHIP !

Update On Why Tahrir Should Come To Malawi

2011-07-14T13:56:00.000+02:00

1. So rumour has it that Mutharika has assented to the Injunctions Bill and that the bill is now law...with that said, injunctions will be a mountain to the usually wronged average Malawian: http://www.nyasatimes.com/politics/mutharika-approves-injunctions-law.html

2. Britain has suspended the much needed aid to Malawi: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/media-room/news-stories/2011/government-to-suspend-general-budget-support-to-malawi/

3. Britain says it will not accept any Diplomat from Malawi nor will it send another after the one that was there was chased by Mutharika: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=PressS&id=631051082

If you are still not feeling like jumping into the streets then you are a serious problem...I hope you realise that we have lost a long standing partner in the name of United Kingdom, our right to seek court redress and our aid!....

Uthenga Wa Chichewa Kwa A Malawi Onse Pa Za Kuyendera Ufulu Za Pa 20 Julayi

2011-07-14T09:26:00.000+02:00

A Third In A Series Of Articles On The Malawi 20 July Demonstrations:

"Pa 20 July Pano, Monga Mwamvera Kale, A Malawi Okonda Dziko Lawo Azayenda Ngati Mbalame Zakunyanja Kuyendera Ufulu Wawo Umene Ukunka Nasowa Ndikuponderezedwa Muno MuMalawi, Amalawi Okhuzidwa Amene Akupanga za Ziwoneserozi Ali Ndi Uthenga Uwu Kwa a Malawi...."

Inu nonse a Malawi mukudziwa kuti mudzaka zisanu zoyamba za ulamuliro wa a pulezident Bingu wa Mutharika anthu tinatangwanika ndikuona ngati tiona zeni zeni ngati dziko. Ife ngati anthu amene timatsatira mwandondomeko zakayendetsedwe ka boma la democracy komanso potsatira zimene inu a Malawi eni munasankha mmene tinkasintha ulamuliro kuchoka ulamuliro wa chipani chimodzi mzaka za 1992 mpakana 1994.

Malawi tsopano wabwerera mbuyo ndipo wasanduka choseketsa cha anthu zifukwa za zinthu izi:-

Kusowa ndalama za kunja zomwe timatha kugulira zinthu monga mankhwala, mafuta ndi zina zofunika.
Kupereka bizinesi kwa anthu omwe ali pa ubale ndi pulezidenti ndi amtundu wake.
Kusamvera malangizo ngakhale ochokera kwa atsogoleri a mipingo ndi zipembedzo.
Kudzichemerera ndikusamvera kwake kwamtsogoleri wadziko lino
Kufuna kusandutsa u pulezidenti ngati ufumu pofuna kusiira mng’ono wake mpando wa pulezidenti mopanda kutsatira ndondomeko zoyenera za demokalase ndi ulamuliro wabwino.
Kuchitira nkhanza ndi kusawalemekeza a Malawi ena omwe agwira ntchito yokonza dziko la Malawi mbuyomu komanso ngakhale omwe iye wagwira nawo ntchito chifukwa chomulangiza.
Kuthamangitsa anthu othandiza dziko lino komanso otigula malonda athu ngati fodya.
Kuopyedza ufulu wachibadwidwe wa a Malawi poopsyedza atsogoleri a mabungwe omwe Sali a boma komanso manyuzipepala ndi mawailesi omwe Sali a boma.
Posintha malamulo mosaganizira zomwe a Malawi anawaikira malamulowo ndizolingazo.
Kusowa kwamafuta a magalimoto ndi zina zotero kwa nthawi yayitali.
Kuletsa kugula mafuta mzigubu ngakhale galimoto itakuthera mafutawo panjira kapena kunyumba kwanu.
Kunyozera zigamulo za ma khoti komanso kuopyeza ogwira ntchito mmakhotimo ndikuwamana malipilo awo motsutsana ndi malamulo.
Kukondera popatsa maudindo a mboma ndi mabungwe aboma komanso business kwa anthu a mtundu wake wokha.
Kuzunza atsogoleri akale ndi ena monga a pulezidenti opuma powakaniza kupita kuchipatala ndi achiwiri awe komanso a Chilumpha ndi a Vice Prezident a dziko lino chifukwa choti ndi mzimai.
Kuzikundikira chuma pogula ndi kumanga nyumba 15 kunja ndi kuno komwe pogwiritsa ndalama zomwe zikanatukula dziko lino.
Kupatsa mkazache malipiro (salary) pogwira ntchito yothandiza yomwe ena amagwira osalipidwa.
Kumangiridwa nyumba ndi zina ndi contractor yemwe akumpatsa ma contract a boma popanda ndondomeko.
Kusamutsa university yoti imangidwe ku Lilongwe kuipititsa ku mudzi ndi munda wake ku Ndata ngati ndi yake
Kumpatsa galimoto zomwe ziyenera kuyenda ndi anthu ngati pulezidenti ndi wachiwiri wake (convoy) kwa Peter Mutharika atalanda kw a Veep ndi a pulezidenti opuma pamene iye ali nduna wamba.
Kulemba ntchito achibale ake mmaudindo akulu akulu a boma ndi mabungwe a boma.
Kupereka chimanga mwaulere ku Zimbabwe mopanda chilolezo chochokera kunyumba ya malamulo.
Kunamiza a Malawi kuti iye ngwa nzeru pamene akulephera kuyendetsa dziko.
Kutseka sukulu zaukachenjede pamene analumbira kuti muulamuliro wake sukulu zimenezi sizizatsekedwanso.
Kunyoza mavenda ndi anthu amalonda.
Kuononga ndalama za boma pomanga damu kuNsanje popanda kuwafunsa a ku Mozambique omwe akukhudzidwa ndi mbali ina yantchitoyi.
Kuwabera anthu omwe akupereka zinthu mboma ponama ndi nkhani ya funding.
Kukhometsa misonkho mosaona kuvutika kwa anthu.
Kuopsedza atsongolori a Zipani zotsutsa ndi amabubgwe amene si Aboma
Kungwiritsa ndi kuphangira nyumba zaulusila mau za Amalawi (MBCTV) kutukwana amalawi.
Kusapereka malipiro kwa Ziphunzitsi and ena ogwira Mmboma mu nthawi yoyenera
Kugwiritsa Ntchito Apolisi molakwika kutolera makobili Mmusewu ngati MRA kutolera Misokho.
Kusakha popereka Chitukuko cha Dziko pokondera Madera ena monga kwawo kwa A Prezidenti

Nkhani zonsezi ndi zina zotero zikuonetsa kuti akuluwa boma lawakanika kuliyendetsa- akuyesa kuti utsogoleri ndi njira yongolemelera ndikutchukapo. Tsopano nthawi yakwana kuti a Malawi tonse tidzuke ndikumuchotsa munthu wadyerayu pampando akupume kundende. Tikupempha a Malawionse kuti tigwirane manja kuti pa 20 July pano tichotse munthu ameneyu. Tipemphe achitetezo monga asilikali a nkhondo ndi apolisi kuti ateteze a Malawi onse patsiku limeneli ndi masiku akubwerawa.

Ife a Malawi okhudzidwa.