On The Frontline

We need demos on sachets, plastic papers

Let me begin where I will end: It is a violation of human rights to continue producing and selling liquor sachets and plastic papers—the twin destroyers of Malawi’s future.

That is why I have always expected our human rights defenders—civil society organisations (CSOs) that speak on human rights—to have waged a war on this long time ago.

Their silence or selectivity in what to defend is disturbing. It creates an impression that some human rights surpass others.

But let’s face it: Youths in the country have a right to good health. But this right, with increased consumption of unregulated cheap liquor sachets, is currently at risk.

Go to hospitals wards. Or just take a stroll in the high-density areas of, for instance, Mbayani Township in Blantyre.

The picture of youths with pale skins, popped eyes and protruding stomach guzzling sachets and some drunk, lying in dirt should be enough to move us to rise up against companies that are producing these sachets.

There is nothing wrong in producing alcohol. But there is something wrong when companies produce high-volume alcohol and package them in sachets that are accessible to everyone and sold everywhere.

As uncle Zebedee argued last week, if the Alcohol Manufacturers Association of Malawi (Amam) believe their products are health for consumption, they should be in the forefront drinking it themselves. Or, let Amam bosses take their products to the children.

The arguments against Amam’s arrogance regarding continued production of sachets can also be extended to Plastic Manufacturers Association of Malawi (Pmam).

Environmentalists warned long time ago against continued use of plastic papers. They argue that these plastic papers take years to decompose—something that complicates soil fertility. Their continued use; hence, is a clear case of rights violation of the people who will be using the land.

Unfortunately, when the grace period expired in August this year, Pmam rushed to court and got an injunction against the resumption of the ban. Is this being fair to Malawians?

We cannot leave the war against these institutions to government alone. In an age of democracy where court reliefs are a game of money than commitment to human principles, we have witnessed how on several occasions, government has issued bans only to be challenged.

Seriously, I can’t fault government on this. It has shown commitment to saving our future from being decimated by the immediate greed of Amam and Pmam.

That is why I question CSOs’ choice to leave government alone in the fight against the greed of Amam and Pmam.

I expect Timothy Mtambo of the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) to be issuing strong statements against Pmam and Amam regularly the way he has done in forcing Beam to return money to the National Aids Commission (NAC).

I expect Gift Trapence of the Centre of Development of People (Cedep) too to do the same.

I expect Martha Kwataine from the Malawi Health Equity Network (Mhen) to stand on an anthill taking Pmam and Amam to task.

I expect John Kapito of the Malawi Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) to organise regular streets protest against Pmam and Amam.

I believe defending people’s human rights is not just about taking government to excessive task. It is about fighting every force—public or private—that threatens the rights of the defenseless.

That is why as CHRR and friends plan for nationwide protest against Beam come January 12, it is my submission that Pmam and Amam also needs to be demonstrated against.

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