CSOs call for ‘active citizenry’: Hold Malawi govt accountable

The Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) have asked Malawi citizenry to demand accountability and transparency from government and other duty bearers on matters that affect the nation.

In an end of the year message to Malawians, the two organisations have since appealed to Malawians to “refuse to drink from a cup of cheap propaganda aimed at entrenching a hegemonic society.”

Reads the statement: “Let us standard up for human rights, good governance, rule of law and justice. Let us claim 2015.”

The statement has been signed by CHRR executive Director Timothy Mtambo and Gift Trapence who is an executive director for CEDEP.

Mtambo and Trapence pointed out that 2015 should be a turning point towards a desired direction for the country.

CHRR and Cedep stated that democracy thrives only on an “active citizenry” that reasons beyond political, tribal and regional trajectories.

“Citizens’ docility has no place in a democracy,” the statement said.

It said Malawians should make democracy work in 2015 for the country to be free from ills of cash-gate, nepotism, corruption, executive arrogance, and dictatorship.

“We can do it by consistently reminding those in government that the power to govern comes from us and that power should only be exercised in the best interest of us, the citizens, as stipulated by chapter III of the Republican Constitution.

“We can do it by demanding accountability and transparency from our government and other duty bearers on matters that affect us, the citizens,” reads the CHRR and Cedep statement.

According to the rights campaigners, the citizens can hold government accountable by openly expressing their disapproval of government’s “cock-eyed” leadership.

“Where necessary and guided by the law, we can do it by taking to the streets, till we are convinced that government is prudently using the mandate we gave it,” said the two groups.

Meanwhile, the CSOs are planning nationwide protests on January 13, 2015 on governance concerns and economic turmoil.