CSO, NGOs Nominated Few Women Commissioners For MHRC

Law Commissioner Gertrude Lynn Hiwa

Clarification from the Malawi Law Commission (MLC) on the imbalanced representation of women in the recent appointment of Commissioners for the 6th Cohort of the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), suggests Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organizations are themselves to blame. 

The remarks from MLC, comes amid outcry that there is only one woman in the current list of Commissioners for MHRC. 

Bertha Msefu, Reverend Patrick Semphere and Baldwin Chiyamwaka are the newly appointed Commissioners who join Commissioners; Benedicto Kondowe, Dalitso Kubalasa, Justin Dzonzi and Steven Mkoka.

Last week CSOs released a press statement which declared that gender equality and women inclusion was missing the appointments of Commissioners of MHRC. 

The human rights defenders, also wrote President Peter Mutharika as final authority that endorse and swears in Commissioners, asking him to withdraw the nominations to allow new process start over again to include two more women from the existing list.

However, MLC on Tuesday explained to the press that all processes to appoint new Commissioners for MHRC was duly followed and that relevant NGOs submitted their nominations of persons to be Commissioners.

“The Law Commissioner and Ombudsman sent out the request to the concerned NGOs and other bodies that are relevant for nominating members that should be considered for the position of members of the Human Rights Commission.” Clarified Commissioner Gertrude Lynn Hiwa

“In the end, the Law Commissioner and Ombudsman being facilitated by the Secretariat of the Human Rights Commission went through the processes as set out by the law, taking into the regard of the provisions of Human Rights Act, the Constitution and the regulations that are made under the Human Rights Act. 

There is a set criteria that we took into account and this is a process that is both objective, transparent and quite comprehensive” she explained 

Hiwa: the out come is what CSOs presented 

“The outcome is a sign of what we had to work with. There were factors that were beyond our control so that although as Law commissioner we are aware of Gender Equality Act provision there was nothing that we could have done but to go through with the process as is provided by the law” she said

Hiwa then said president who is the appointing authority had only fulfilled his mandate by appointing the names that were before him.

Although the Law Commissioner, noted that the calls by concerned CSOs for more women representation were valid, but she also indicated that in the reading of the law, there is no reversal to the decision that was made.

Economic Experts Urge Govt To Allocate More Resources for Investment

Hon Goodall Gondwe being led by
Sergeant at Arms into the Chamber to
Present 2015/2016 budget 

The budget statement for the financial year 2015/2016 continues to receive varied response among politicians and experts, but one thing in common has been a more emphasis on the need to start framing budget that focuses on stimulating productivity and investments.

The K901.6 billion budget estimates presented last Friday by hon Goodall Gondwe, the Finance Minister, has an allocation of K224 billion for development expenditure. 

Henry Kachaje 

President of the Economics Association of Malawi (Ecama) Henry Kachaje, observed that the budget lacks emphasis on investments in the economically productive sectors. He said, now that donors are not likely to support Malawi in its budget, a focus on investment is the right option for Malawi economy.

He further noted that Economic growth which the Minister indicated in the statement is not substantiated by factual evidence of where that growth would come from adding that in a number of areas, the minister was failing short of committing the reforms government is going to undertake by this budget.

“It’s a budget statement that has left us still wondering whether what we are hoping to achieve as a country may be achieved” said Kachaje, as he referred to the Finance Minister's emphasis of hope for resumption of donor aid while acknowledging unlikeliness of their comeback soon.

Dalitso Kubalasa 

Dalitso Kubalasa, Executive Director for Malawi Economic Justice Network (MEJN) 2015/2016 said this budget statement was interesting not so much as a surprising statement because of Finance Minister’s acknowledgement of known tough things Malawi is still sailing through.

But he said the budget has some courageous decisions and very cautious on what is been committed in this budget.

A bit different from Kachaje observation, Kubalasa noted that government has prioritized economically productive areas including the need for further input from stakeholders on challenges facing the fertilizer subsidy programme.

“Another striking element of the budget though no details were explicitly made is on Input subsidy programme where government is acknowledging challenges facing the programme and the need to discuss them with stakeholders.” said Kubalasa