Malawi CSOs accuse govt of terror reign: ‘DPP must stop practising Machiavellian politics’

The civil society organisations which protested and handed a petition to parliament on high levels of corruption in government and impunity, accused the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of conducting a reign of terror.

They CSOs said apart from state sponsored corruption, they are concerned with politicisation of governance institutions, threats to human rights campaigners and government critics.

They pointed out that there has been continued reign of threats and terror orchestrated by the ruling DPP against those with dissenting views.

“The DPP led government must stop practising Machiavellian politics. In our view, the DPP has not reformed. It is resorting to the same old underhand tactics in silencing its critics,” their petition it reads in part.

They also bemoaned persistent water shortages and electricity blackouts, nepotism, unemployment and collapsing economy.

“Is it not ridiculous, if not utter foolhardy that while acknowledging that Cashgate has destroyed the integrity of the country, the DPP government is finding solace in playing hide-and-seek with the names and individuals that looted Malawians’ resources in the recent K236 billon Cashgate report? Are we as a country, not throwing integrity to the dogs, in so doing? This is hypocrisy of the highest order,” the petition reads in part of its six pages.

But Minister of Information and Communication Technology Nicholous Dausi trashed the CSOs, saying “they seem to have a premeditated mind “and that they shunned dialogue.

Said Dausi: “The CSOs rushed to the streets because they have pathological hatred of this DPP government.”

He , however, said the activists should commend “democratic” government for allowing them to exercise their  right to freedom of expression peacefully.

The protests has a low turnout but one of the organisers Billy Mayaya said what mattered most was the spirit of the protest on matters of national importance.

Mayaya blamed  the low turnout on unfounded rumours emenating from “rubbish tactics from government operatives” that demonstrations had been cancelled at eleventh hour.

Protesters who included Reverend MacDonald Sembereka, Gift Trapence of the Centre for the Development of People (Cedep) and Mayaya.

“We need [not] over emphasise the devastating impact of Cashgate has had on Malawians. As such, the least Malawians can expect is a leader who chooses which regime of Cashgate to prosecute,” said the CSOs.

But those who protested carried placards with messages such as : ‘Chaponda amangidwe ( Chaponda –fired minister of agriculture – must be prosecuted); ‘No more Cashgate’; ‘No shielding of corrupt ministers’; ‘Tatopa ndi Mbava’ (we are fed up with thieves in government).

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