Chakwera condemns racist slurs, apologises for MCP atrocities in Malawi dictatorship

Leader of opposition Lazarus Chakwera has condemned racist slurs hurled on Lilongwe City Centre independent MP David Bisnowaty by some Malawi Congress Party (MCP) legislators and also apologised to Malawians on atrocities committed by the former ruling party iron fist one party dictatorship.

Chakwera’s comments follow Thursday’s incident when Bisnowaty was called ‘a Jew’ who should go back to his home and other racist slurs.

The leader of opposition who is also MCP president noted that there is only one human race in the world regardless of race, creed, colour, language.

“Let it be on record that as MCP our reason for being is to promote development, help consolidate democracy and protect the dignity of every person. It is for this reason that I stand here to condemn utterances that are deemed to demean or denigrate anyone in this chamber regardless of the perceived provocation,” said Chakwera.

“I condemn all the remarks deemed racist,” said Chakwera, adding the first head of state Kamuzu Banda who was MCP president was against racism and wanted to everyone treated with respect.

He therefore asked Bisnowaty to forgive, forget and move on.

“As a believer in Jesus Christ and a theologian cum politician, I can state that there is but one human race, regardless of the colour of one’s skin and/or cultural and religious beliefs. I believe, in forgiveness because I have been forgiven all my sins through the death of Jesus Christ.” said Chakwera, a former Assemblies of God church leader.

Chakwera further asked Malawians to forgive the party of its past atrocities, saying as present leader of the MCP; he takes responsibility of the brutal past of the party that ruled Malawi for 40 years as many people were butchered.

“I take responsibility as President of all the sins of my father,” he said.

He asked Malawians not to focus much on the past but focus on the challenging present, likening Malawi to a ship moving in a wrong direction, saying Malawians must ensure the country is moving in a right direction.

“This country needs to move forward. Right now it is not moving in the right direction. As a ship headed for the rocks we need to change direction and not waste time outwitting each other as to how best the furniture should be arranged,” said Chakwera.

He added: “I personally believe that it is better to be hurt by the truth rather than to find comfort in lies.”

Deputy leader of the House Kondwani Nankhumwa said the parliamentary political leadership should meet to discuss what punishment must be meted out in future if another MP makes such racist remarks.

Nankhumwa then asked the Speaker Richard Msowoya to force the Dedza north east legislator Alekeni Menyani to apologise to Bisnowaty.

Mzimba north MP, speaking on behalf of People’s Party  Agness NyaLonje said such unconstitutional racist slurs will retard development in Malawi.

Bisnowaty accepted the apologies but corrected Chakwera that he provoked the situation by insulting Kamuzu, saying he never mentioned the former head of state but faulted the one party system instead.