CHRR, CEDEP Order DPP Regime To Stop Political Terror

Trapence  Left and Mtambo Right

Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Centre for Development of People (Cedep) have warned Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regime to stop what the two human rights bodies called ‘act of political terror’ reported recently in the media.

Recent media reports have indicated that DPP members have assaulted an innocent citizen in Mzuzu; attempted to disrupt Peoples Party (PP) political rally in Chitipa and damaging business property of citizens perceived to be supporters of opposition political parties in Limbe, Blantyre.

“This is reminiscent of the shrinking political space during the period spanning 2009-2012 where the parading of Panga knives in the streets of Blantyre by DPP youth cadets was the order of the day.” Reads the joint statement, “Till to date no one has been held accountable on this. Nevertheless, Malawians thought that this “militant” behavior was a thing of the past especially after the sweet promises of a transformed DPP government.”

The letter which has been signed by its executive directors Timothy Mtambo for CHRR and Gift Trapence for Cedep have strongly condemn the behavior by the DPP “Such kind of barbaric conducts have no place in a modern Malawi where human rights for all ought to be respected and protected every single day.”

“We, at CHRR and Cedep, are however, not unmindful of the naked fact that the terror DPP members have recently resorted to could be part of ill-advised tactics by the ruling party to silence critical voices in light of the serious economic and political challenges the country is currently facing.  Or, should we safely assert that this is just one of the many public attention-diversion brainchilds by the President Prof. Peter Mutharika government machinery? We wonder, and sadly, so. More disturbing is DPP’s leadership failure to condemn this unbecoming behavior by its membership but instead resolving to shifting the blame on other political parties without providing any substantive evidence to prove to the contrary.”

“Otherwise, what the DPP officials need to know is that whatever this terror being visited upon innocent citizens intends to achieve can surely not bode well with the democracy gains the country has registered. It’s a big minus. No one deserves to be persecuted on political grounds.” Reads the statement

In the same vein, the two institutions have also in their petition raised concern over the rising number of industrial strikes in the country.

Right now, ACB, Parliament, Malawi College of Medicine, Chancellor College, Mzuzu University among others have closed shop pending improved conditions from government.

CHRR and Cedep said the closure of ACB offices by APM’s regime is another disaster and the worst expected of his administration. Furthermore the two bodies say the situation does not give any hope in as far as the national crusade to curb corruption is concerned.

“This is regrettable. Already there are fears that this “sealing exercise”, as APM’s sole tactic to resolving the strikes, shall be extended to the judiciary and any potential grouping who may resolve to strikes as a way of bringing their grievances to the attention of the regime. You don’t just cripple constitutional bordies like that and claim that your government is committed to fighting graft, corruption and also ensure that there is access to justice for all. This is pure hypocricy, and in fact hypocricy of the highest order”