Malawi's human rights situation bad- says AU

An African Union (AU) mission of the African Commission on Human and People's Rights to Malawi said this at the end of its five-day fact-finding mission on the status of human rights in Malawi.

Commissioner Mumba Malila said his office has never received any periodic report from Malawi. Every country that ratified the charter is supposed to submit a report every two years.

"Since Malawi ratified the Charter on Human and People's Rights in 1989, no single report has been submitted. It is clearly stipulated that all countries that have ratified this charter must submit reports for a period of two years," he said.

While in the country, the two member mission, the first since the country ratified the Charter, met a number of senior government officials but failed to have an audience with key opposition leaders for their views.

The mission discussed a wide range of issues with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Joyce Banda, Speaker of the National Assembly Louis Chimango, Malawi Electoral Commission Chairperson Anastasia Msosa, Attorney General Jane Ansah, Commissioners of Police, the media and the civil society.

However, the Gambia-based commissioner said the delegation was satisfied with the government's explanation as what happened for the country not to submit the reports.

Malila who was accompanied by Robert Eno, legal officer for the Commission, also said his delegation was happy with steps being taken to ensure that the reports are submitted in future and the Commission would keep a close eye on it.

"We hope the Ministry of Justice and other relevant ministries will work together to ensure that submission of reports is done," he said.

Malawi reportedly told the mission she failed to submit the reports due to financial and human resource constraints.

Apart from the discussions, the delegation also toured Zomba Maximum Prison, where Malila expressed concern with the prison conditions saying it was too congested and lacked adequate provision of necessities to prisoners such as food and medication.

The Prison, built around the 1800's accommodates over 2000 inmates instead of its capacity of 1,000.

"The prison is not supposed to accommodate all the inmates it has at the moment. There is need for Malawi to establish more maximum prisons, otherwise the existing one leaves a lot to be desired because inmates' rights are not being considered," Malila said.

The delegation was in the country to promote the African Charter on Human and People's Rights; and to exchange views and information on the implementation of the charter by the Republic of Malawi.

The delegation is expected to submit a report to government soon with recommendations on its findings.