April 27 CSOs pen Chakwera

Human Rights Defenders (HRD) who were behind the April 27 2018 nationwide demonstrations are seeking the help of leader of opposition in Parliament Lazarus Chakwera and other opposition leaders to pile pressure on government to act on their petition.

HRD chairperson Timothy Mtambo said in an interview yesterday the forum has suggested to meet Chakwera, who is Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president, and leaders of Peoples Party (PP), United Democratic Front (UDF) and Alliance for Democracy (Aford) next week.

In a letter to Chakwera dated June 13 2018, the activists say they were prompted to see him following the irresponsiveness of the office of the President and “shocking silence from members of the opposition  in Parliament on their petition.

They said since they presented the petition, there has never been any official communication from the President’s office.

“By virtue of purposively copying the petition to your high office and Parliament it was our expectation that you… would play a vital role in mobilising Parliament especially opposition to pile pressure on the Executive to act accordingly as it required Parliament’s collective decision,” reads part of the letter signed by Mtambo and his deputy Gift Trapence.

They say the meetings will also accord them an opportunity to appreciate other initiatives the opposition is doing in ensuring that the Democratic Progressive Party administration addresses the concerns raised in their petition.

“We know that non-attendance to the matters raised in the petition by the President is a demonstration of his unwillingness to be held accountable by us.

“However, it even becomes shuddering when such progressive and well intentioned initiatives by us seem to go unnoticed and uncared for by the opposition in Parliament,” reads the letter to PP leader Ralph Mhone.

In an interview, UDF chief whip Lillian Patel confirmed receiving the letter which she said had been forwarded to her party leader Atupele Muluzi for action.  n