Minister Chiumia refuses to apologise or resign over ID Registration officers’ arrest order
Embattled Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Grace Chiumia has refused to resign or even apologise for her order to arrest 14 National Registration Bureau (NRB) officers in Mzuzu, justifying her action as good citizenship.
The 14 were arrested by Mzuzu police on Sunday 17th September, 2017 and were charged with unlawful assembly and conspiracy to commit a felony but were later granted police bail reportedly to allow police conduct some investigations.
Chiumia has defied threats by Malawi Congress of Trade Union (MCTU) to take Malawi government to the Committee of Experts on Freedom of Association if it (government) if there will be no open apology from her.
MCTU also demanded a statement from government condemning Chiumia’s conduct, immediate payment of the concerned workers’ salaries and arrears and professionalism on the part of police.
But the Minister has insisted she was right to report to police the NRB officers “as a good and responsible citizen after sensing danger.”
Chiumia said she reported to Police as a citizen and not in her official capacity as a Cabinet Minister directly responsible for internal security.
“I did it in my personal capacity as a good citizen of Malawi not as a minister,” she said.
She said it was very unfortunate and regrettable that MCTU were demanding for her apology and to stand down from Cabinet over the matter.
““I have no intention to step down,” said Chiumia, adding “And I will not apologise, for what?”
Chiumia said the matter is in court, saying she will “comment more when there whole issue is finalised.”
The Minister said MCTU should wait to know the “root cause” of the whole matter.
In a statement co-signed by its president Luther Mambala and secretary general Dennis Kalekeni, MCTU described the arrest of NRB stand as a violation of human rights citing freedom of association as enshrined in the Malawi Constitution.
“We want government to condemn these barbaric acts, or else, MCTU shall have no option but to include these actions in our report to the Committee of Experts on Freedom of Association for government to appear before the committee next year in June during the International Labour Conference,” reads the statement.
NRB spokesperson Norman Fulatira said the arrest affected the bureau’s operations
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She can’t apoogise because she knows how illiterate the and docile Malawians are. Worse still, Malawi courts are known to protect politicians. Justice sold to weak and corrupt legal system. Democracy is very expensive.
Minister uyu kunyasa kumaso kkkkkkkkk kodi powder satha kupaka ku nkhope konyasako kkkkkk
Shame to those blame the good citizenship. Those are in the same ring to trying to wave out their techniques distorting countries development an security.They want things to go astray and be the first to blame. Good job Madame and all those who will report to the concerned Authority matters endangering Malawi.
I know her too,worked as a nurse at Ekwendeni Mission Hospital,It seems she is not even remorseful to the acts, amabungwe go a head ,do not bow down to these malpractces
National Registration exercise is an important and security sensitive matter that this nation has ever conducted. Those responsible or employed to undertake this exercise should be of high integrity in order not to allow foreigners and other elements to derail the system and take advantage of money squabbles to penetrate Malawi. The Minister whether in her official capacity or in her personal capacity had information that those responsible for Mzuzu were plotting to subvert the process by demonstrating against working conditions. Congratulations Madam Minister you served your country well by ordering the arrest of these people, there were released after… Read more »
Grace do not lie here. “Root of the matter was unpaid salaries on the day of arrest”. Otherwise there was no need for these people to meet. Usovege!
I know this lady! She was a Tutor at Ekwendeni College of Nursing. She had nothing, she used to commute using a minibus from Mzuzu to Ekwendeni on a daily basis. She cannot resign as she is nobody outside her ministerial position,
is commuting using minibus a problem? hahaha amangwetu moyo umasitha ngati zanu sizikuyenda muzifunse zikuwonesa kuti iweyo udakali momwe anakusiyila. above all ndiwe wa jealousy how come uziti with ministerial position is nobody. eeeeeeeee aliyense with something ndi nobody. i dont know iweyo ndiye ndiye ndi chani
Amayi awa sazatha bwino, anyanya kunyasa ndi ziphuphu kumaso
“as a good and responsible citizen after sensing danger” indeed. Ukuuza ana? Munthu wopanda nzeru kwambiri. Tamuonereni. Mxiew!!!!
How many times have “good citizens” of Malawi reported abuse by people in high authority and got arrested. Just because she is a minister. Very shameful.