‘Concern for Malawi’ group lobby British MPs
Malawian group, a collection of political and social activists calling themselves Concern for Malawi (COMA) say they want to persuade some British members of parliament in the hope of highlighting the economic problems Malawi is facing at the moment and deteriorating rights situation.
Spokesperson of the group, Chalo Mvula who is also a blogger on topical issues about Malawi, told Nyasa Times that they want the UK lawmakers to raise issues about Malawi during their House of Commons deliberations.
“Malawi human rights record is quickly going downhill, people are becoming afraid to offer even constructive criticism to the government because they are afraid of being attacked, harassed, their offices or houses burnt or even killed- where is the freedom that we fought for, we cannot afford to just sit down while one man in the name of Bingu Wa Mutharika is taking us back to the years of dictatorship,” Mvula said.
The group is hoping the collective voices from the MPs may get attention of the current Malawi regime, who are trying their best to rekindle their relationship with the British Government.
“Britain until recently has been one of the major aid donors to Malawi, the economic situation is getting worse now in Malawi, there is no forex, people are queuing up days just to get fuel and the living conditions have gone worse, “ said the spokesman.
The group plans to meet Manchester central Tony Lloyd, Manchester Gorton, Sir Gerald Kaufman, former cabinet Minister in Tony Blair government and MP for Salford, Hazel Blears, Blackley MP, Graham Stringer and Stalybridge MP, Jonathan Reynolds.
“We have already been in touch with their offices and days and times for the meetings are being arranged,” he said.
“We are hoping that most Malawians would love to see great accountability in the government. We want transparency on what the government is doing and we want the government to start listening to its people, the very same people who voted them in power,” he said.
Mvula is also an active member of Malawi Diaspora Forum, a grouping of Malawians living in UK.
