'if restitution is made within the period, demonstrations will be called off' Anti-NAC Gate CSO’s
Five Civil Society Organisations demanding First Lady’s BEAM Trust and Mulhakho Wa Lhomwe to refund National Aids
Commission (NAC) funds says their planned national wide demonstrations are
ready on 13 January 2015, but can call them off once the involved institutions return
the money before actual day of demonstrations.
BEAM Trust and
Mulhakho Wa Lhomwe whose work is not directly involved in fight against HIV and
AIDS are reported to have accessed NAC funds up to MK5 Million and MK9.4
Million respectively through dubious means.
However NAC maintains stand that it did not grant any money to
Beautify Malawi but rather participated in the Beautify Malawi launch
activities through buying dinner tables for stakeholders and advertising during
the launch. And as a cultural grouping, Muhlakho wa Ahlomwe was supported through
high level advocacy activities for HIV and AIDS issues.
Board members for BEAM Trust have also accused CSOs for making demands on the matter out of jealousy.
But
Manet+, Manelera+, Malawi Health Equity Network (MEHN), Centre for Human Rights
and Rehabilitation (CHRR0 and Centre for Development of People (CEDEP) in a
statement released on Friday confirm that the day to hold demonstration is set
and preparations are underway.
The
joint letter bearing signatures of executive directors Safari Mbewe (MANET+), Martha
Kwataine (MHEN), MacDonald Sembereka (MANERELA+), Gift Trapence (CEDEP) and Timothy
Mtambo (CHRR) gives condition
that if these institutions repay the money within the period,
demonstrations will be called off because intention is not to do the
demonstrations but making sure that the funds are paid back to NAC.
CSOs insist that “government
and its agents” used their power to influence NAC to release the money while
holding its dagger. They also believe that NAC clarification on this abuse of funds is a
“big joke” but an attempt to shield the involved institutions from the scandal “NAC
statement did not manage to address any of our concerns, if truth be told”
maintains CSOs in the statement
“It is in
light of the foregoing that the CSOs under the anti Nac-gate banner have stuck
to our plans to stage nationwide protests on 13the January, 2014. The CSOs are
more determined than ever to offer the public the platform to exercise their
freedom of assembly and expression in demanding the two institutions in
question to refund the NAC money, and also call for the current regime address
the prevailing economic and political woes which are inhibiting Malawians from fully
enjoying their human rights” reads the statement
Timothy Mtambo (CHRR0 and Gift Trapence (Cedep) told journalists in Lilongwe Friday evening that their petition is being worked on and it sets time frame of every demand and vows not to rest until restitution in full amount of the money is made.
Timothy Mtambo: We are making progress |
CHRR executive Director Timothy Mtambo said
the demonstrations progress are making strides and come that day people will
hold demonstrations in exercising their rights.
Gift Trapence: We will use other avenues if our petition demands are not ment |
Cedep Executive Director said “We have started
the announcements, we just want to remind Malawians that this is a national demonstrations
but as well that will have subsequent announcements of designated routs and
districts where demonstrations will be.”
“We have a petition that we have written that
we want to submit to government to make sure that they are able to comply to
the demands of that petition.” He said
He made it clear
that if it happens that government fail to comply to the demands by not forcing
its agents (BEAM and Mulhako) to repay the money, CSOs will use other avenues
“One is to do more demonstrations, but as well we will also use courts to make
sure that these institutions have paid back the money.”
He noted that though court staff are on strike
but once are open CSOs will “mobilize Malawians” to sue such institutions as
well as NAC Board for flouting procedure of accessing NAC funds, “Even if at
our local level in terms of courts system we are not helped we have so many international
instruments that we can use to force these institutions to pay back the money.”
At first CSOs issued a seven day line for NIB, BEAM and Mlhakho wa Alhomwe to repay back the money which they did not honor and upon expiry
the CSOs announced January 13th 2015 as a day to hold peaceful demonstrations.
In light of these CSOs says they have still given the said institutions “so
many days” to repay the money.
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