By Cathy Maulidi:
Tempers flared in Parliament on Tuesday when Leader of the Opposition George Chaponda brought to Parliament the issue of panga-wielding men who disrupted demonstrations in Lilongwe.
Presenting his concerns under Standing Order 14, which deals with matters of national importance, Chaponda said Malawians’ right to demonstrate was being muzzled.
He cited two occasions when unknown men pitched up at demonstration venues in Lilongwe, where they scared demonstrators with pangas as Malawi Police Service officers watched.
Chaponda said instead of doing something about the issue, the government, through security agencies such as police, had been quiet on the issue.
“It is deeply concerning, especially for those of us who fought tirelessly for multi-party democracy, to witness the escalating suppression of fundamental human rights, freedom of speech and freedom of expression.
“The Constitution unequivocally guarantees the right to peaceful demonstration. However, the current reality reflects deliberate violations of these rights,” Chaponda said.
Chaponda went on to report to Parliament that citizens’ rights were violated on November 13 2024 and November 25 2024, when opposition political parties and civil society organisations, respectively, organised demonstrations.
Responding to Chaponda, Leader of the House Richard Chimwendo Banda, who is also Minister of Local Government, said even though the government did not condone violence, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) should be the last to condemn the violence now.
Chimwendo also accused the DPP of picking sides when it comes to condemning violence saying the DPP did not condemn their own member, Daud Chikwanje, who preached violence in Machinga when he asked DPP youths to set ablaze anyone in MCP regalia.
“The DPP’s selective condemnation of violence raises concerns. Months ago, a party member instructed youths to burn anyone wearing MCP clothing, yet the DPP failed to denounce this statement.
“Why does the DPP choose when to condemn violence? They stayed silent when 20 people were killed during demonstrations in 2011. How about the Tambala family that was killed, their shelter in UTM office torched down?” Chimwendo said.
On panga-wielding youths, Chimwendo described them as business owners who wanted to protect their businesses and properties.
“People are protecting their properties. In 2019-20, people lost their properties and they were not compensated; so, people are protecting their properties,” Chimwendo said.
0 Comments