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MHRC accuses JB of politicising relief food

Joyce Banda lays a wreath on a July 20 victim on 20 july 2013 in Mzuzu
Joyce Banda lays a wreath on a July 20 victim on 20 july 2013 in Mzuzu

The Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has bemoaned the involvement of ruling party officials in the distribution of humanitarian food saying the practice infringes on the rights of members of opposition parties.

In its latest report on the Status of Human Rights in Malawi released on Thursday this week, the commission says President Joyce Banda and her ruling People’s Party (PP) recent efforts to distribute maize and flour across the country did not offer the country the most needed solution to the hunger problem.

“The PP programme led to a politicised approach to dealing with the situation which potentially does not guarantee equitable distribution of the commodity to all deserving vulnerable persons. Such approaches raise the possibility of putting political priorities above fundamental human rights priorities.

“The underlying consequence of this is that those that are not associated or perceived not to be associated with the political grouping in question may be left out. This defeats the very essence of a human rights-based approach where the issue of equitable access to a matter of right is relegated to a position of access being accorded to a privileged few,” reads the report in part.

In the report, the commission also condemns the growing trend of hate speeches, especially at PP’s political rallies ahead of next year’s elections, saying the right to freedom of expression does not entail the right to say anything, including words that constitute hate speech.

“In the run up to the 2014 Tripartite Elections, it is critical that politicians should desist from making derogatory and inflammatory speeches against other political leaders as such incidences influence elections-related violence,” reads the report.

But PP deputy publicity secretary Ken Msonda yesterday said relief food distribution is not politicised because it is chiefs who identify beneficiaries of the programme and not Banda or PP officials.

“That report is expressing the opinion of the commission and they have a constitutional right to express that opinion. Whenever the President is going out to distribute food, she is not the one, neither People’s Party officials, who identify the beneficiaries. The beneficiaries are identified by village chiefs and that has nothing to do with politics,” said Msonda.

On the commission’s concerns about hate speech, Msonda said: “Even PP condemns hate speech but you should differentiate between hate speech and truth. Sometimes, when one is saying the truth, some people misinterpret that as hate speech.”

The commission’s report, which condemns PP officials for continuing to monopolise the country’s public broadcasters, also regrets President’s Banda’s rejection to sign the Table Mountain Declaration—a statement of freedom of the press in Africa—which the report says could contribute to the building of a strong, free and independent media in Malawi.

The commission also raises concern about public officials’ failure, including the President and Vice-President to declare their assets, adding the recent removal of some officials from public offices after change of government administration last year was unlawful and deprived the affected individuals of their right to administrative justice.

But Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu yesterday said President Banda has followed all relevant procedures to declare her assets, saying questions on the contents of her declaration should be going to office of the Speaker of Parliament.

“She has satisfied the demands of the law by depositing her assets declaration to the Speaker of Parliament. If you are saying that the President should influence the handling of the Speaker’s office, then that will be something else,” said Kunkuyu.

Kunkuyu also said abuse of MBC was deep-rooted in the previous administrations; hence, it was difficult for people to immediately fully appreciate strides the Banda administration is making to free the public broadcaster.

MHRC chairperson Sophie Kalinde who launched the report in Lilongwe together with commissioners Benedicto Kondowe, Rodgers Newa, Stephen Nkoka and Marshal Chilenga, said they have already presented the report to Banda and submitted the same to Parliament.

Said Kalinde: “The report presents the position on the status of human rights in the country and goes across a range of issues including health, water, HIV/Aids and others. There are areas where we have made progress and areas where we need to improve. Some areas have manifested deprivation of various rights.”

She said the political rhetoric on the commitment to observe human rights by the country’s leaders needs to translate into tangible actions on the ground as seven people are recorded to have died while in police custody.

“We have noted increasing mob justice which is essentially murder and deprivation of one’s right to life. We also call on authorities to ensure that the matters of July 20 victims and [the murdered Polytechnic student] Robert Chasowa are concluded,” said Kalinde.

But Kunkuyu said government has left the issues in the hands of relevant authorities including courts to do their job without interference.

“We need to follow the law. If we rush, we will be found to be contravening the same laws,” said Kunkuyu, adding that he was yet to get a report from Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs on the cases’ progress.

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