CSOs should not create hype out of nothing — Dausi
Minister of Information and Communications Technology Nicholas Dausi has said the civil society organisations (CSOs) planning the April 27 2018 demonstrations should not create a hype out of nothing.
Dausi, who is also official government spokesman, was reacting to threats by CSOs to hold vigils at Capital Hill until either President Peter Mutharika or Vice-President Saulos Chilima receives their petition.
The CSOs, organising the demonstrations to express dissatisfaction with the K4 billion payout to members of Parliament (MPs) and other socio-economic and governance issues.
“They should not create an impression as if something lawless is happening in the country,” said Dausi.
He said the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government is already addressing most of the issues raised by the CSOs.
The protests organisers have written Chief Secretary to Government Llyod Muhara, notifying Capital Hill of their intentions to hold demonstrations on Friday and the vigil until their 10-point petition is received by either President Mutharika or Vice-President Chilima.
In the letter, signed by chairperson of the Human Rights Defenders Forum (HRDF) chairperson Timothy Mtambo and other rights defenders Gift Trapence, Charles Kajoloweka and Billy Mayaya, the CSOs said they were mindful of the Executive’s attempts to frustrate the protests.
Spokesperson for the April 27 demonstrations, Gift Trapence, told Nyasa Times that the CSOs would not leave Capital Hill until either Mutharik or Chilima personally receives the petition.
“We have given the gsovernment notice on the same. If they think we are childish, we will hold the vigil right away at Capital Hill until one of them receives our petition,” said Trapence..
According to the CSOs, the nature of the issues contained in their 10-point petition requires the ‘chief political executive’ of the political arm of the public service (President or Vice-President) to receive the petition.
“Indeed, as rightly put in the 2014 DPP [Democratic Progressive Party] manifesto that no person in Malawi should ever believe that Malawi is his or her personal property.
“We, the citizens shall not sit and watch Executive arrogance from either the President or Vice-President stopping Malawians from exercising their constitutional right in demanding the fulfilment of the presidency’s obligations in the Social Contract which they signed with Malawians in 2014,” they added.
Mutharika is currently outside the country on official duties whilst Chilima said he would delegate an official from the Office of the President and Cabinet to receive the petition.
Meanwhile, Government spokesman has reiterated that the Constitution guarantees the citizenry their right to hold peaceful demonstrations.
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Wina mawa akhala maliro ndithu pamene ma CSOs akukanganira ndalama. Kaya a PAC zimenezi akuzidziwa? Mwina nawonso adyapo zawo.
Tonse amene timachita phokoso pano pa net tidzapite ku ma demo mawa osadzabisala mnyumba kuti wina wosauka akhale sacrifice. Makamaka ife a opposition tikakhale pa front line . Ndamva kuti a police akupoisha teargas watsopano wabwino kwambiri tsono ameneyo oyamba kumulawa tikakhale ife osati amphawi omwe tikufuna kuwauzawo. Choncho atsogoleri a PAC ndi CSOs ndi MCP tonse mawa patsogolo mawa.
civil societies should not create a storm in a tea cup? do you know how influencial that storm may be?
DAUSI DON’T VOMIT ALL YOUR
WORDS !!
ONE DAY YOU WILL LOOK
FOR THESE CSOS
YOU ARE NOT WHERE YOU ARE FOR LIFE
A Mtambo ndi gulu lanu mwambereka ndani? Kuno Malawi ngati munthu afuna udindo tinagwirizana kuti tizivota osati kukagona ku Capital Hill. Kodi mufuna kukhala amodzi wogadira Capital Hill?
If you say the government is addressing some of the issues raised by CSO why did Mutharika and his baby boy refuse to receive a petition which is raising genuine issues for the government to address? this could have shown your goodwill
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER RECEIVING THE PETISHONI?
I don’t think holding vigils at capital hill can solve issues even if it means being there for weeks.Mtambo and Trapence, politics is another complicated league of its kind. There’s no way one can win an arguement if one cannot avoid it. Find a lasting solution. Mind you, a man convinced against his will remains of the same opinion still.Both of you (the CSOs and the goverment) disagree on certain issues and yet both of you may be right in one way or the other-but that is not logical. That is pschology.There has to be a different angle of looking… Read more »
Honourable daisy, something lawless is happening in the country. The whole world says so. The fact that you are so blind to see makes me think of what Callista is saying. DPP is made up of very old people who can’t even see the obvious. You are the case in point. Blind to the core with no brains to talk of. Your president and some intelligent ministers have had to admit that corruption is a big problem in Malawi. Global organisations have rated Malawi as the most corrupt in the world. Which parallel planet are you on, Honourable Dausi or… Read more »
APM is wrong by staying outside when his own country is in Economic problems. Look at Ramaphosa, he left the summit in UK because of problems in his country showing that he is a responsible president. Nkhalambayi siyitithandiza Bola CHILIMA CRUSADE we need a responsible president not useless old people