CHRR advises Mutharika to ‘tread carefully’ with Banda

One of Malawi’s leading human rights non-governmental organization Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) has advised President Prof. Peter Mutharika to tread carefully on Thoko Banda saga after he told BBC that he has turned down the job of ambassador to Zimbabwe because he was opposed to dictatorship.

Mtambo (left) with fellow activists: Government needs to seriously consider the human rights implications of her decisions
Mtambo (left) with fellow activists: Government needs to seriously consider the human rights implications of her decisions

Banda was initially earmarked to be Malawi’s envoy to Belgium and the European Union, but was switched to head to Harare.

He, however, embarrassed President Mutharika during the BBC’s Focus on Africa programme when he  said Mutharika never  consulted him on the Zimbabwe posting.

Banda claimed he has snubbed the Zimbabwe switch, saying he is not “somebody to send to a place like Zimbabwe, where they have a leader who wants you to endorse whatever he does with impunity.”

But government has said  the President had already planned to bar Banda from his assigned diplomatic mission to Zimbabwe even if he did not pull out himself.

Minister of foreign Affairs George Chaponda told the state-owned Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) television during Monday evening news cast that President Mutharika had already planned to bar Thoko Banda from representing Lilongwe in Harare where he was expected to be an ambassador.

But CHRR boss Timothy Mtambo said in a statement thta by contemplating or deciding to drop Thoko Banda  solely based on his 2006 remarks, President Mutharika may be ” indirectly communicating to the public that he admires  President Mugabe’s style of leadership to the extent that any critical voice to dictatorial Mugabe has no place in his government.”

He adds: “This may eventually create the impression that the current DPP is not truly reformed but rather the same old DPP – which idolised Mugabe big time- characterized by several human rights violations. We therefore advise President Mutharika to exercise struck a reasonable balance between diplomatic obligations and adherence to and protection of human rights for all. Respect and adherence to human rights should never be sacrificed at the altar of ‘fake’ diplomacy”

In 2006, Banda reportedly called Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe “an idiot” and that he is a “horrible man.”

According to Chaponda, Mutharika appointed Banda for the post because he was not aware of the remarks Banda had made against Mugabe.

Banda told the BBC he would no longer use these words but said is  opposed to Zimbabwe dictatorship.

Meanwhile, Nyasa Times understands that Zimbabwe government had also turned down Banda and in a diplomatic cable, asked Malawi to send a diplomat  and “not a charlatan.”

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kyroc
kyroc
9 years ago

kodi inu atumbuka osamangoyamika kuti mukukhala nafe m`malawi mwathu muno bwanji. mukutiyamba dalatu kumene mukuchitaku. do u mean calling somebody stupid makes one a democrat? isn`t this rudeness? nanunso a mabungwe r u too stupid to digest issues? to exercise my democracy i now declare the human rights activists ” idiots”

pepe
pepe
9 years ago

Thoko bwera uzakhale bwana kuno, mabwana anga onse mbava zokhazokha kwawonso kumodzi.

Naganza
Naganza
9 years ago

WHO SAID PETER IS DIFFERENT FROM BINGU? IS IT NOT PETER WHO SAID HE WQILL TAKE WHERE HIS BROTHER LEFT? THIS IS WHAT HE IS DOING. THIS FAMILY MUNTHARIKA BROUGHT TRIBALISM TO MALAWI WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO UNIT THE NATION. THAT IS WHY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY UDF IS CALLED UNITED EMOCRATIC FRONT. BUT MULUZI IS IDIOT WHO CAN NOT STAND AS A STRONG MAN RATHER THAN BEG TO THE PEOPLE HE MADE THEM AND HUMILIATED HIM. WHAT A SHAME.

Asylum seeker
Asylum seeker
9 years ago

Now he has been kicked out of his apart again for not paying his rent

no time 2 waste
no time 2 waste
9 years ago

today what we hear is, Human Rights, human rights, human rights! instead of God’s Law, God’s Law, God’s Law!

thako la zomba
9 years ago

Kaya Zanu Izo, Za A Thoko Ine Ndimadya Nawo.

thako la zomba
9 years ago
Reply to  thako la zomba

Kodi Amaufulu Inu Nthawi Amamangidwa Peter Munali Kuti?

Munthu wa Mulungu
Munthu wa Mulungu
9 years ago

I don’t think you are anx better. Alomwe ndiye ndinu zitsiru. Can go and investigate ku Thyolo and come up with 3 or even 2 uncles to Peter. Ali kuti? Inu ndi mbuzi zachabechabe. Ngati sukulu inakulakani bwanji osamangopha mbewa. mmalo momachemelera zosadziwika.

boy
boy
9 years ago

With just reading your remarks, I don’t even think u deserve to be call “Mwana WaMulungu”, osati Mulungu wake tonse tikumudziwau ayi. Much as u may have something burning in your heart, u can not call Alomwe zitsiru, no way. Much as we don’t know what yr tribe is, ” who ever pronounces such sarcastic words to others, he is the one who is what is saying to others. Basi, nkhani yatha. Remember whatever u say, Alomwewo ndiamene akulamula, it was through the votes, period!! Ufune usafune, that’s the reality.

boy
boy
9 years ago

With just reading your remarks, I don’t even think u deserve to be called “Mwana WaMulungu”, osati Mulungu wake tonse tikumudziwau ayi. Much as u may have something burning in your heart, u can not call Alomwe zitsiru, no way. Much as we don’t know what yr tribe is, ” who ever pronounces such sarcastic words to others, he is the one who is what he is saying to others. Basi, nkhani yatha. Remember whatever u say, Alomwewo ndiamene akulamula, it was through the votes, period!! Ufune usafune, that’s the reality.

kuipakobedwamavote
kuipakobedwamavote
9 years ago

Silly.

Fathara
Fathara
9 years ago

Anthu awa kaya tipange nawo bwanji kaya? Chimene amafuna samachiziwa kwawo ndikulongolola basi kufuna kumupezela peter chifukwa basi. Ndiye munyatu peter anakuwelengani samakusamalani muzingolomgolola choncho, munya samakuyakhani. Akakhala a Thoko Banda ndiye ndiyawo agwa nayowo. Anthu akumpoto simuzatheka.

madalitso chilombo chilombo
madalitso chilombo chilombo
9 years ago

proud of Thoko he loves democracy

Chamango
Chamango
9 years ago

Just that he is selfish like you

boy
boy
9 years ago

Anakuuza kuti what Thoko remarked to Mugabe is democracy, zopusa basi. It doesn’t even make u the better one, it just shows how stupid Thoko is. Can u show me where he had an audience with Mugabe to point out what he feels he should change, anangobwebweta kumbali showing his weaknesses. Shame to u for such a comment. He is a coward! And u r a fool!!

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