Let's respect for human rights

The observation by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative that Malawi is a state in decline just buttresses what local human rights bodies and activists have been saying that the human rights situation in Malawi is degenerating rapidly.

The issues the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative has cited as indicators of worsening human rights abuses in the country are irrefutable. No one can dispute that 20 people were killed during the July 20th demonstrations. Even evidence being tendered before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry has started to indicate that some citizens were shot by live bullets despite the fact that they were not looting by were conducting their normal businesses.

Such evidence tallies with the findings by the Malawi Human Rights Commission that contrary to international standards, live bullets were used against unarmed demonstrators and citizens. A catalogue of infamous and draconian laws which the present regime has either formulated or polished is well known and some of them have been referred to the Law Commission for review.

With the chorus of "I will smoke you out," which the President regularly sings when threatening voices of those critical of his government, perhaps the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative is justified to dub Malawi as a state in decline in as far as issues of respecting human rights are concerned.

It is very unfortunate for Malawi to be branded as such when one considers that the country is a party to the African Charter of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Both treaties enshrine the rights to life, expression, association and assembly. The onus is on the government to translate its obligations into action – to make sure that these basic fundamental human rights are observed. Sadly the government has failed to submit state reports on the steps it is taking to implement its human rights obligations at a local level. The state report on the realization of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is, as a matter of fact, 16 years late.

We would like to join the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative in urging those in authority to change the state of affairs by respecting human rights which are fundamental values of the Commonwealth – which Malawi is a part of. Unless the government takes its human rights obligations seriously, it is going to plunge Malawi deeper into decline and those in power should not cry foul when such observations are being made by both local and international institutions. As a multiparty state, Malawi can do better on respect for human rights than what is happening now.


(2011-12-16/THE DAILY TIMES)