New MHRC still falls short of female voices

Malawi President Joyce Banda has appointed new members of the MHRC, with only one voting female commissioner, an issue that has raised some gender equality eyebrows.

There is only one woman, Sophie Kalinde, among the new commissioners appointed by Banda effective July 5 2012.

The other members are Benedicto Kondowe, Rodgers Newa, Dalitso Kubalasa, Steven Mkoka, the Reverend Dr. Zacc Kawalala and Marshal Chilenga. Law commissioner Gertrude Hiwa and Ombudsman Tujilane Chizumila are ex-officio members; hence, they have no right to vote. This leaves one female vote against six male voices.

In the last commission, there were two voting females against five male commissioners.

‘JB not to blame’

Renowned activist Rafiq Hajat says the perceived gender imbalance in the new Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) should not be blamed on the President, but people who make nominations.

Hajat argued that selection of MHRC commissioners is based on appointments, with people and institutions nominating candidates they feel have been of service to society and have performed admirably in the past.

Said Hajat: “It is a public-driven process. If there is gender imbalance, it has come from society itself which shows how gender insensitive we really are. We are very free to talk, but we do not seem to be able to walk the talk. That gender imbalance is in every area of society. We have a long way to go towards achieving gender balance.”

Emma Kaliya, executive director of NGO-Gender Coordination Network, was reluctant to comment on the issue because she is not aware of the criteria used to appoint the commissioners.

The new commissioners are also coming in against a background of their predecessors led by consumer rights activist John Kapito who openly criticised authorities on human rights violations.

Hajat said outstanding issues for the new commissioners will include the reaction to July 20 demonstrations, effects on families of the people who suffered since that time and the orphans created and whether the institutions of the State acted with impunity, violated the rights of the people who were merely demanding their constitutional entitlements, social justice and economic equity.

Commenting on fears of possible conflict of interest with leading activists being appointed to MHRC, associate professor of law at Chancellor College Edge Kanyongolo said he sees no conflict because civil society organisations complement the work of the commission.

The commissioners are expected to be sworn in this Wednesday at the New State House in Lilongwe.

A chairperson will be elected at the commissioners’ first meeting.