By Iommie Chiwalo
The Human Rights Activists have said that the events surrounding the arrest of political activist Bon Kalindo validates the assertions that President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, his Tonse Alliance Government in general, and his Malawi Congress Party (MCP) in particular, are now a threat to Malawi’s hard-earned democracy.
The observation by representatives of the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI); the Social Revolution Movement (SRM); the Human Rights Ambassadors (HRA); the Forum for Democracy and Rights Defenders (FDRD); and the Mzuzu Youth Caucus; who have expressed shock at the reports indicating that activist Bon Kalindo, who was released on bail by the Zomba Magistrate Court on Monday, 13th December 2021, has been re-arrested.
The activists in a joint statement signed by Phunziro Mvula of Social Revolution Movement, Oliver Nakoma of Forum for Democracy and Rights Defenders, Steve Chimwaza of the Human Rights Ambassadors, Gomezgani Nkhoma of Mzuzu Youth Caucus and Sylvester Namiwa of the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives say the development vindicates fears from some sectors of the society, that Kalindo’s arrest was politically motivated and a futile attempt to silence him.
Also according to the activist’s research, the reasons for the re-arrest so far point to a Police Service that is carrying out its business as a militia wing of the MCP.
“It is against this background that if indeed Kalindo’s re-arrest is connected to the looting and damage of property during the Lilongwe demonstrations that were conducted recently, then the police should also arrest the Minister of Civic Education and National Unity, Mr. Timothy Mtambo, and the leadership of the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), who led the endless violent demonstrations between May 2019 and April 2020, where billions worth of property was damaged, and left scores of people injured, including the gruesome murder of the late Inspector Imedi,” reads the statement.
In a strong two-paged statement, the Activists have also warned against selective application of justice saying as things unfold, such conduct will not be entertained.
“Thus far, we are challenging the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Kainja, to intervene, otherwise he risks being personally held responsible for Mr. Kalindo’s persecution,” reads the statement.
They have since challenged all well-meaning Malawians to be vigilant and defend the country’s young democracy from the MCP’s infamous atrocities, torture and wanton abuse of the citizens’ human rights.
“Above all, we will never get tired reminding President Chakwera, that Kalindo’s arrest will not derail the fight against this government to fix the economy, cushion the poor, and deliver on all its campaign promises that were made prior to the court sanctioned June 23, 2020 Fresh Presidential Elections (FPE),”
Chakwera is a disgrace not only to Malawians but mankind as a whole. When you come to think of it that he was once a pastor you start to question the churches credibility. Does Chakwera have brains, emotions, normality, humanity, morals etc? The man himself is cruel, a lair, conman, unfit for purpose and literally dead.
I have been a leader before and that is not difficult if one connects with subordinates and knows what is expected of him/her. Running a government is even easy because in every strata you have people who are meant to be qualified or rather technocrats in their fields. Blunders settles in when you incorporate your family, friends and villagers. To raise a finger when they mess up is impossible. Or if your main objective of leadership is enrich yourself through illicit means then you throw out the window all the guiding principles, laws, Standard Operating Procedures, protocols, policies. You tailor-make your own terms of reference. That is the type of modus operandi Chakwera has instituted. The person has total disregard of the owners of the land, all he is able to see is up to the tip of his nose. Malawians must brace themselves for a torrid, torturous journey because the way I know them, they wait too long to decide that enough is enough after things reach a point of irreparable. Time is now for Chakwera and his Tonse Alliance Jokers to go, not only going, but going to prison for embezzlement. It is a shame really to see a pastor amassing for himself the worldly things instead of living by examples as it were. In these things you cannot hide or run away from realities because things on the ground will show clearly as to what the end result looks like. For how long will he continue blaming his predecessor who left office 1.8 years ago? One thing he forgot was that the world is a living thing. It has got eyes, ears and a heartbeat, so much that when it is hurt it bleeds and cries. When it reaches to that point the onus is now in the hands of the creator who is the Principal Landlord and completely owns whatever is contained therein and that Person is God the Almighty.
This is what happens when you see things with blue eyes. For starters, DPP messed up the economy of this country big time and every Malawian including you know this. Billions of Kwachas were embezzled by then ministers of DPP including their president. State companies were defrauded of billions through procurement. Now it is a crime to blame DPP for the current financial crisis we are in, what a joke. You want the current adiminstration to correct in 1 and half yrs the ills committed by DPP in 6 yrs? Judge them when they clock 5 yrs which is a mandatory period for every president.