Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) leaders today stormed a local market in Lilongwe to buy padlocks and chains to be used for shutting down Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) offices.
The grouping will hold nationwide demonstrations on Thursday to force MEC Chairperson Jane Ansah and the other commissioners to step down following the nullification of the May 21 Elections
HRDC Chairperson Timothy Mtambo and His Vice Gift Trapence were spotted at a local market in Lilongwe buying padlocks and chains in preparation for the protests.
Speaking at the market, Mtambo said shutting down MEC officers is the only way to get the MEC staff out of the office.
Mtambo and Trapence
“Tomorrow we are going to shut down MEC offices and we will open the officers when the Commission have assigned new staff, they have to know that this country belongs to citizens not them and they can’t do opposite to what the people wants”, Mtambo said.
Mtambo further added that the demonstrations are going to be peaceful demonstration and he asked the police and Malawi Defence Force to make sure security is tight.
HRDC has been organising demonstration since last year demanding Ansah to step down but the MEC chairperson has always defied the calls.
This week, the Public Appointments Committee of Parliament has been meeting the MEC commissioners starting from Monday as ordered by the Constitutional Court to enquire into their competence.
The Constitutional Court has thrown out applications by Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) and President Peter Mutharika’s applications for stay of the 3rd February ruling that nullified the 2019 Presidential Elections.
The court delivered its ruling this afternoon in Lilongwe following a hearing on Wednesday morning.
In his application, Mutharika argued that his constitutional rights will be infringed upon if the appeal at the Supreme Court succeeds and the stay is declined. Mutharika also argued that he will lose money in campaigning for fresh elections if the elections are held but later his appeal succeeds.
The court, however, ruled that citizens also have the right to be governed by people elected through due electoral process and these rights are more important than the rights of those who voluntarily decided to be candidates in an election.
Judges
The court also dismissed Mutharika’s argument that there would be chaos if the fresh elections produce a different president and his appeal at the Supreme Court succeeds since there would be two presidents.
According to the court, it is highly unlikely that the fresh elections will take place before the Supreme Court of Appeal makes its determination on the appeal filed by MEC and President Peter Mutharika.
“In the unlikely event that elections take place before the appeal is determined, there will not be chaos as suggested by the respondent (Mutharika) because the Supreme Court of Appeal will exercise inherent powers to make consequential orders to reflect the proper constitutional order in relation to the presidency,” the court said.
In its application, MEC argued that fresh elections will cost K43 billion and this amount will not be recovered if the MEC’s appeal at the Supreme Court succeeds.
However, the court ruled that MEC will not use its money and cannot contend that it will suffer loss.
“If any loss is to be suffered, it will be the people of Malawi who would have suffered such a loss as a consequence of the second respondent’s (MEC) mismanagement of the May 21 presidential elections,” the court said.
The court then dismissed MEC’s application for the stay of the 3rd February ruling.
Speaking after the ruling, Khumbo Soko, one of the lawyers for Saulos Chilima who is one of the petitioners, said the decision is a continuation of the monumental decision handed out last week.
“We are glad that the court has thrown out the applications,” said Soko.
On his part, Mutharika’s lawyer Charles Mhango said he will await guidance from his client.
I have been following Malawi Politics since my early teen, back in Malawi. Thank God that I was also lucky to have witnessed Kamuzu’s Malawi and even saw Kamuzu several times, although at a distance, but I take this as a privilege. When Multi-party democracy was introduced, as a young boy I walked to attended a rally by Chakufwa Chihana in City Centre – in-between Capital Hill and Chinese Gardens. Then going back to my secondary school days at Phwezi, it was all politics as the school was run by politicians, we use to see in the evenings convoys going to the white House. This is directors office at Phwezi, located on hilltop overlooking the school. But all this time never understood what Politics was all about. Until I arrived in the United Kingdom.
It is sad that today even the learned amongst us, does not understand what politics is all about. There is a massive gap in political education in Malawi starting from secondary schools to colleges. I think as we are becoming more mature as a democracy, we need people to understand what politics is all about and how the systems of government functions. This need to start from secondary school, as many young people in our country are showing more interest in. Politics.
One famous political scientist- Harold Laswell defines politics as, who gets what, when and how. I think this is a great definition of politics – it is all about distribution of national resources to benefit the country, not only one part or region.
This distribution of national resources has to benefit all people, the communities, the wards and the constituencies. This is atask that involves elected politicians to use their skills to bring development in their areas or using their political influence through lobbying. When it comes to the executive, Ministers need to come up with policies that can change the public services to benefit the needs of Malawians through quality service delivery.
Politics As a Public Service
Politics should not only be about serving our own interests, but be about public service – servant leadership as Dr. Lazarus Chakwera preaches – serving the people, not serving ourselves – this means making policies that can uplift peoples lives. If every politician was in politics for this reason, Africa could have been transformed by now. I consider myself very lucky that I have the opportunity to get involved in Politics in both the United Kingdom and Malawi, this has allowed me to apply comperative politics and have good understanding. In the United Kingdom those that join Politics already have interest to make change as activist – champion a certain cause and they just wait for their time and opportunity to make the change they want . This is why we see when someone is given the opportunity, within a short period, we start seeing change. In Africa people become politicians just by appointment because or because of their community status, something that is dangerous.
Politics should be about public service, introducing policies that will make people remember your tenure. Most of the people that are rushing for presidency but have been in government – if we ask, what changes have the contributed to Malawi. Im sure they cant point a single successful policy that has transformed the livelihood of poor Malawians.
Our Failure to Hold Politicians Accountable
Most of our politicians in Malawi have failed us, especially those that have been in government from the Vice president to cabinet ministers, they cannot point a single peace of policy or legislation they have championed and successfully achieved. But when we try to scrutinise them, their followers will come out and defend them.
I think I we need to see change in Malawi, there is need to properly scrutinise those that have been in government on their track record. We need people who can go into office to make a difference. I applaud Dr. Lazarus Chakwera he promised Malawians that he will end the rigging, alot of people did not believe, but now Malawi has been saved, we will have laws that can safeguard peoples votes. The next thing is corruption, nepotism and regionalism and I have great home that if Malawians can all rally behind Chakwera we will see change.
Some years ago, reggae artist Lambani Dube, then trading as Limbani Banda, called Malawi music trash. This earned him a status as a controversial musician. He enjoyed some limelight thereafter after the release of his smash hit Chisoni Nkumatenda. Though he has since worked on a number of projects, he has relatively remained quiet. However, last week, Lambani released two musical projects, a new album Political Influence and a DVD compilation None But Jah. reporter BRIAN ITAI caught up with him and here are the excerpts.
Lambanie Dube
Q
: Lately you have been silent, what have you been up to?
A
: I have been up and down trying to drill holes of success. In life nothing comes easier. I took time to study our way of living and everything about us as a nation. I have come to understand a lot about us and now I know who we are. So, my silence has been about this study on human life.
Q
: We have seen you popping up on the scene with the release of a new album and a DVD compilation, take me through these two projects?
A
: These two projects are a culmination of what some say is not good enough. I believe I am one of the best reggae artists worldwide. I am from the class of Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, Burning Spear, Bunny Wailer, Black Uhuru, Gregory Isaacs and Third World. I don’t think I could go wrong with my choice. So, I decided to come back and tell the doubting Thomases and those who underestimate my abilities. I want to show them I am a serious artist. From the Knock Out album now I am back with Political Influence and None But Jah DVD. This is a warning to everybody out there.
Q
: How many years have you been in music?
A
: I have been in music since creation. Music has been my thing since birth. Jah [God] gave me life and talent and through music. I have the power to spread the word.
Q
: In total, how many albums have you produced to date?
A
: Now I have 11 albums. It has been a long road. There was even a time that I wanted to quit but I saw that there was no-one who was doing it my way. I am a perfectionist when it comes to reggae music which I have got a soul for.
Q
: Some years ago you described local music as trash, what is your view about the art now?
A
: You know a lot of people did not understand this and took it their own way. But to say the truth Malawian music was not that attractive then as it is now. The production was not serious, even the messaging was not tight. You cannot compare with what we are producing now. A lot of artists are now exposed to good recording equipment though in some instances the compositions are still below the required level. Artists are investing more on production than developing good concepts. They think everything they see is a song and people just fall for everything they hear. When I called it trash it was on the basis of the production. But today our production standards have improved, but our musicians are lacking composing skills. I don’t know which way Malawian music is going.
Q
: What do you make of the standards of the local reggae music being done now?
A
: Reggae music is about consciousness. A lot of artists are doing it the right way but still the problem remains on the composition. Reggae music is the type of music that walks through as it has divine powers, it has soul and it delivers lessons. Every time I hear reggae music play I enjoy.
Q
: Not long ago you announced that you want to take up artist promotion by managing some artists, how far did you go with those plans?
A
: I am still in that mission. I have a band Sound Slaves which has a lot up—and-coming artists and we have others from outside who we are also trying to promote. The goal is to make the world a better place for everyone.
The piped water developmemt project has taken off in Nkhatabay South area. According to Member of Parliament for the area Ken Zikhale Ngo’ma, this project is a dream come true for the people in the area who for a long time have suffered from drinking unsafe and poor quality water.
Hon Ken Zikhale Ngoma in Nkhatabay South
The piped water project which is using the Parliamentary Community Development Funds (CDF) initiative has seen Chifora area benefitting with Kande area being next on the plan.
Speaking to 247Malawi News, Zikhale Ngoma who was elected last year to be MP for the area said “This is wondeful for the people of Nkhatabay South. For once they can see real development in the area. For a long time Community development funds have been mismanaged in this area, however, during my term, i want to make sure that the money is rightfully used to bring development to the area” said Zikhale
Nkhatabay despite providing Malawi with a number of Political heroes such as Orton Chirwa, Aleke Banda and Kanyama Chiume has for along time suffered from lack of infrastructire development. “This will be the first time since Orton Chirwa was in Government for people of Nkhatabay South to use tap piped water” added Zikhale.
