Some Malawian Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Rights Activists have formed a group 'Citizens Forum for the Defence of Good Governance' that aim to create a broad based social movement to speak with common voice on issues affecting Malawians.
The Chairperson for the group Gift Trapence told Journalists Thursday morning in Lilongwe that the group is a movement of likeminded and patriotic CSOs, networks, Concerned Malawians, Academia and many others including those in diaspora.
He said the group will be tackling issues of good governance, transparency, and accountability, rule of law and constitutionalism, and respect of human rights.
He emphasized that Citizens Forum for the Defence of Good Governance will have a voice of Malawians and speak on behalf of Malawians. As well, he said the grassroots will be reached with the activities of the forum which will be objective but not politically driven.
"This forum is for Malawians and not for CSOs only. We want likeminded CSOs, networks, Trade Unionists, Members of Parliament even Faith Based Organisations to be part of this forum" said Trapence
"This forum will go to the grassroots, they will be the members of this forum because we want to give Malawians platform to voice out issues." Said Trapence and emphasized that the group is people centered
"We will have regional and district structures across the country but we want likeminded people who can speak objectively" he said then added; "This association is not there to overthrow the government, but actually to support it"
Trapence observed that the current administration has already began showing signs of bad governance and therefore formation of the Forum is one effort to bring a common man in the debate to defend human rights and engage relevant actors to adhere to basic tenets of democracy and respect of human rights.
"The purpose of this forum is to create a social accountability movement which will stand up to safeguard democratic and good governance principles and observance and respect for all human rights as well as adherence to the rule of law." said Timothy Mtambo spokesperson of the Forum
"The Objectives of this forum are that; we would like to create a critical mass of members of the general public that will be able to claim their rights to hold leaders accountable and guard against tendencies that undermine democracy, good governance and rule of law.
The Forum will facilitate dialogue with different stakeholders including the Government on issues affecting Malawians. We will strengthen, collaboration and voice of Malawian citizens to able to seize their democratic space and hold their duty bearers accountable" said Mtambo
He added that the group will also strengthen CSOs collaboration for effective engagement with duty bearers on democratic and human rights issues.
He then made it clear that the group will dispel suspicious members or anyone whose actions are political and are not conforming to the group's objectives.
The group has also made a statement on what it call 'Crisis State of Public Service Delivery, Economic Governance, Transparency, Accountability, Rule of Law and Human Rights.'
The group says these problems continue to stagnate the progress of this country and further, eroding the public trust in the current administration.
The Group noted challenges that includes; Water and Electricity challenges in all main cities, Security lapse and poor working conditions of police officers, shortage of drugs in hospitals and poor health service delivery as well as delayed salaries among health workers and teachers.
The group has therefore demanded for the immediate effort to address these challenges and not making empty promises.
The newly formed forum has a motto "Promoting good governance, human rights and democracy in Malawi", "A better Malawi is possible, people power"
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