HRCC calls on Malawi govt to listen to voices of reason: ‘Donors need soul searching’
The Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) has advised President Peter Muthatika led government to listen to voices of reason and called for more all-inclusive stakeholders forums.
The human rights body has since commended quasi – religious body, Public Affairs Committee (PAC) for setting the pace for all-inclusive stakeholders forums.
PAC organized a two-day conference in Blantyre where a cross-section of Malawians discussed the country’s economic crisis.
According to a statement signed by HRCC Board Chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba, the country needs visionary and steadfast leadership to take control of economic and insecurity challenges.
“We commend PAC for setting the pace for such honest and necessary discussions, but would love more of such forums where the country’s leaders (in government and opposition, Business, Youth and civil society e.t.c) can sit in one room and honestly map the way forward for our nation.
“This will enable us all to own the problems and solutions as opposed to rhetoric by Government Ministers and officials that ‘Everything will be fine- do not despair’ without offering advise on how best Malawians can survive in this situation,” said Mkwezalamba.
He called on government through its leadership to come up with clear, concise, doable and realistic strategies with which to recover the economy within a specified period as opposed to continued goal post shifting.
HRCC boss also asked government to revise the minimum wage to enhance people’s buying power and also called for the shift from having a Minimum wage to a Living wage in support of the Sustainable Development Goas agenda.
“The state needs to partner with SME’s and local entrepreneurs to fill the needs gap as commodities/products from outside the country are too expensive for an ordinary Malawian.
“The Donor community needs a further soul searching as to why they are in the country. HRCC finds the excuse of their failure to support as a result of Cash gate as lame and outdated! We commend the Donor Community which continues supporting NG’Os as well as other Government agencies directly as its support is doing a great deal in alleviating the suffering of ordinary Malawians,” reads the statement also singed by his deputy Joyce Phekani.
HRCC further calls for a dnor community, government and stakeholders (CSO) forum to discuss the reasons why they can’t resume budgetary support to Malawi where each party will be assigned roles and responsibilities in turning the country round and monitor Government dealings.
According to them, time for politicking is long gone and there is need to review laws governing political parties and possibly deregister all irrelevant parties who are a stumbling block in the process of a united Malawi.
On security lapses, Mkwezalamba said there is to enhance the capacity of the country’s law enforcement agents by providing them with mobility aids and increasing the recruitments to ensure that they are in easily accessible areas and have necessary equipment’s to respond to urgent situations.
“Our Judiciary and Police, require adequate funding to expeditiously bring to book all suspects involved in crime in Malawi and efforts should be made to spare no one, be they in government or related to public figures, all must be tried and expeditiously for that matter,” reads the statement.
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