Mutharika cautioned on persons with albinism vigils: Protestors undeterred, ‘finish us off’
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) has faulted government for not taking interests of persons with albinism (PWAs) at heart as they keep facing injustice including being blocked when they were holding a peaceful march to State House in Lilongwe on Wednesday planned to culminate in three-days of vigils.
PWAs under the banner of Association of Persons with Albinism in Malawi (Apam) took to the streets in the capital Lilongwe in a bid to present a petition to President Peter Mutharika at Kamuzu Palace to protests attacks, killings and abductions of PWAs.
CCJP coordinator Boniface Chibwana said it was unacceptable for law enforcers to use heavy handedness against the vulnerable PWAs when they were peacefully expressing their right to demonstrate.
Chibwana said PWAs “deserve protections” from the brutal killing, maiming and abductions that they continue to face for merely having a different skin colour.
“Government is obliged to provide security and ensure the heinous crimes perpetrated against people with albinism come to and end,” he said.
Governance commentator and human rights defender Makhumbo Munthali told Nyasa Times that President Mutharika should tread carefully on how he handles PWAs vigils.
“With the harsh experiences which persons with albinism faced on their first day of the vigils which included being soaked in rains and blocked by a heavily armed police on their way to the vigils, Mutharika may be portrayed in the public and international eye as a leader who has no human heart,” Munthali said.
He said the decision by PWAs to hold vigils “in the contest of State’s inaction on the continued killings of persons with albinism is justifiable.”
Munthali said the best Mutharika as a democrat was to respect the manner in which PWAs wanted to express their frustrations.
Despite police block and intimidation, the protestors were undeterred as they chanted ‘Tasala pati? Mungotimaliza [Do we have a reason to live? Finish us off].
Human Rights Defenders Coalition chairperson Timothy Mtambo who helped to organise the protests said it was “legal and peaceful.”
Presidential adviser on local policies Hetherwick Ntaba, who is also chairperson of a committee tasked to fight against abuse of persons with albinism, met the demonstration organisers but some protestors were heard shouting at him “he is compromised.”
Others murmured as they discussed one audio clip which went viral on social media where Ntaba was implicated by one arrested suspect that he is connected to the syndicate.
The demonstrators have since given a 48-hour ultimatum to the President to return from Northern Region where he is on official duties and attend to them as they have temporarily camped at Mkwichi Secondary School, two kilometres away from State House.
“We are giving Mutharika 48 hours to come back. We want him to address the concerns,” said Mtambo on behalf of PWAs.
In Parliament, opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) chief whip Jacob Hara, standing on a point of order, asked why PWAs were blocked when the Constitution provides everyone with the right to demonstrate.
Minister of Homeland Security Nicholous Dausi pleaded with the House to give him time to find out what was happening.
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That invitation by the President was cosmetic kufuna kuwaputsitsa anthu a chialubino kuti asayende, and ngati a President anamva kuti anthuwa ayenda kupita ku State House osangowadikirira afike bwa umamuitananso munthu yemwe wakuudza kale kuti adzakuyendera? Anthu amene ayendawa ndi onse osati akulu akulu omwe akhala akukumana nao mbuyomu osadekha akumane nao?
Ma albino musatikwane as if mulipo one million mwanva, he invited to state house munakana nde lero mukufuna chani? Have answers from Mtambo and Chakwera amene akukupopanowo tione ngati ali ndi mphamvu…mwayamba kulowa ndale and mwayamba kubowa.Malawi has a more pple seeking attention from the same president nde musatikwane ngati vote yanu ingawinise munthu….SHUPITI
We are using Chaos Theory to deal with albninsm situation
In the Bible, we are told about how the people of Israel were ill-treated by Pharoah and his subjects. The people of Israel cried to God for help. The God of Heaven heard the cries of the people of Israel. God fought for the people of Israel against the Egyptians. In Exodus 14:28, we are told that “of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them(Israelites) into the sea, not one of them remained.” Let us pray for those who are murdering and oppressing our brothers and sisters with albinism to repent before God pour out His wrath upon them. My prayers are with you all!.
Bwana president please musabwelere chifukwa cha ana amwanowa. Gwirani ntchito yabwino uko ku mpoto. A mtambo afuna pobera ndalama zama donor aziti ndimadyetsa ma albuno ku vigil umbava wowonekeratu.
Citizen #1???????
Mmamudziwa inu? Mulu ma sitizen omwe sanakachonepo. Kupusa a mw kubetsa u citizen mwapatsa olendo.ķkkkkķ
ok tamva
How can you want the president to come meet you when you refused to meet him in the first place? Does that really make sense. What do you want to present to him that you could not have presented to him last week? I thought headlines said APAM will not meet the president. You can not disrespect the office of the president by suggesting that he should meet you outside at a virgil or for him to receive a petition. As much as we feel the plight of you and we are all against the killings and abductions, you have to do it the right way. The president invited you to a meeting last week where all the police commissioners were present and ministers responsible. The president made promises. Just tell him to stick to them and have a monitoring team in your group that can directly report to him what has been done and what is not being done.
This virgil is about money. Like you said, you have set aside K10million to spend on the virgils. If you had met the president last week, this K10million was going to be intact. But now you are going to be claiming money for food, fuel, etc from wherever the money is. It wasnt good seeing you guys in the rain like that last night. Be rational.
Kodi mwati akatsegulira popi??
K10,000,000 budgeted and yet you want gvt to give you acommodation, si kuba kwinanso kumeneku? Anzanu ndi ma MP amalilira kuti akumane for one month koma pano akumangokangana zoti akambilane alibe, kungofuna kudya misonkho yathu za ziiiiiiiiii
A Kondowe please becareful. Mulankhulitsa anthu pambali inu. You think you have powers to issue an Ultimatum to the whole President of the Country?? Mind you that you are not more than the population of the Northern Region where Mutharika has gone for government engagements as citizen No. 1 Kodi ndimayesa anakuitanini kuti mupite ku State House last week ndipo inu munakana? Tsono lero mukumufuna bwanji munthu amene munamukana? What you need to know is that Chakwera has no powers over your plight. It is only the State President and his government who can attend to your issues. Enawo ndi ongolubwalubwa. Look now you are at Mkwichi Secondary School sleeping mukalasi. What are you eating there? I believe its government which can provide you with meals.Ask yourselves if Chakwera and Timothy Ntambo are going to sleep with you there. Iwo akusiyani pompo azibwera kuzakuonani mamawa and leave. Please sober up and advise your collegues to take a democratic approach and not be militant.
Kodi mwadziwa liti kuti APM AND NOT CHAKWERA has powers over the plight of people with albinism? Why awake from the slumber now and start telling as kuti and I quote: “it is only the state president and his government who can attend to the issues of people with albinism” when the same government has been sleeping on the driving seat since June 2018 when the National Action Plan with its K3.1 billion budget on how government should address all issues were passed in parliament? Abale, “KUGONA” kumeneku zili bwinobwino koma? Inu nthawi zonse zinthu za straight forward basi ntchito ikhale kumbwambwana komanso kugunata basi! Mukufuna zithenso 8 months muja zinalili za academic freedom muja? Mukadakhala ena mukanakhala ndi chisoni chifukwa panopo anthu akutaya miyoyo yao!! Ndi solution zitinso mukufuna kuchokela kwa Chakwera popeza iye anakuuzani poyela kuti akanakhala iyeyo, ndipo a Malawi atayesa kungomusankha tsiku lomweo adzagwiritsa ntchito zonse zili mu NAP!! Nde popeza wanena zooofoka za APM, nde muziti walowetsa ndale.! Zoona? I thought APM is a polical figure? And everytime he is talking about the issue he is saying dpp government will assist all albinos! Tsopano zimenezo si ndale? Take this, the fact that we chose to be having a political government, we shall always have a political opposing group, hence their comments on what government is not doing well should never be seen as sin………………..
Ogo! Mukatero mwalankhula.? Man kaya ndiwe woman I don’t care! Listen,akanakhala kuti akuphedwa ndi mtundu wanu, a President akanathamanga kukhala nanu pansi koma poti ndi anthu amene akuoneka o opanda pake mmaso mwanu you can say what ever will please you. I remember mukuyamwana magazi a President took his whole time going village by village trying to gather information. but now look what has happended, sometimes we need to think before comment,
The time is coming, where everyone will enjoy this country, walking with no fear when the truth will be ruling this country and take away evil.
Your words will hunt you where every you will, you have treated this people in your own way but remember some one some where is watching over them, I believe their dawn is just waiting some one to leave the sit and given to some one who can hear their cry!!!!
Watch your tongue! By the way why the President decided to go and do other things instead of first listen to his children? Do you want to tell me that the lives of these guys is nothing? If we can say that he doesn’t care, is it wrong?
I tell you Chakwera will not run away from this,, he will welcome them and of course the marching things will not be taking place in his rule because this country will be a better place to live where every one including you will be happy because when the Righteous rules people rejoice!
These people with albinism have a right to demand their birth right thats they are also humans who deserve to live. These people are killed like animals and can you tell me what government has done so far.
Akulu kodi anthuwa analonjezedwako kangati? When the talking becomes too much then action mukuona ngati atani? Anthuwa akuphedwa mmodzi modzi, because you were lucky to be born black then Don’t talk shit Here ok? Let them do what they feel like doing because it is affecting them not you sir.
Kkkkkkkk a Mankhumbo Munthali, mumafuna President aimitse mvula.
kkkkkkkk komadi aise zinazi ukamazimva, dzimapeleka phwete bwanji.
Munthali’s strong comment that “if carelessly handled APM may be portrayed in the public and international eye as a leader who has no human heart” is spot on! While you may have problems with what he normally say, you better think twice on the fact he has said osati zopanda nzeru zomwe patolapo inuzooooooooooo!! Mind you it is APM’s image to be tainted not cadets like you, so he needs to trade carefully…………………… for we are in a global village and can never operate on our own!! The world can decide to change operation procedures with his governemt. Nde zikamapita kumeneko musadzati Makhumbo sanakuuzeniiiiiii!
Umbuli ndi matendadi heti? Simungamuvetse mwana wopita kusukulu uyu! Inu umbuli tho wochita kusowera nawo chimbudzi chake!
Tatsala pati? The translation is Wrong
APAM if you are politicking too much you will force some people kuyankhula pambali. How can you force Malawi president to return from North to attend to you as if you are more Malawian than the Northerners themselves where there are more albinos than you camping at State House?
The ones who presented their petition to the president were also albinos and the contents of their petition were more or less similar to yours. If their actions were without your blessing the best you would have done was to give it the benefit of doubt, postpone the vigils and wait if the president would fulfil his pledges to them in time before embarking on next cause of action.
Now let us be frank here, you rightly put it that we are all human beings which means within you camping at state house there can be evil minded people who may want to harm our president. So me as one who doesn’t want our president harmed advise him to finish his duties up North and from there stay at Mtunthama State Lodge in Area 3. When campaign starts in 12 days time go to Sanjika for 3 weeks campaigning in the Southern Region. You can’t blackmail govt anywhere else in the world.
The bottom line was that they wanted to harm the president indeed. Ngakhale Mtambo anakwiya ataona kuti president sakubwela, nayenso wathawa wasiya anthu pa mvula. Uyu yekha ndiye saamuthatu, anamutola Bingu yemwe uja, may his soul rest in peace.
@ muthalirenji
Very inhuman statement. Actually anthu akumphoto ndichikalidwe chanu.
It proves to me that you are a WASTED SPERM FROM YOUR LATE FATHER. BOLANSO AKANABVALA CONDOM
Iwe Masharubu kumeneko kutukwana? Kuyankhula ngati malemu madala ako anavala kondomu yobooka kuti ubadwe iwe?
APM i believe will give you no other responses apart from those already given to ur colleagues. My humble advice to u brother Kondowe is that dont be used by opposition parties or csos but all the time work with govt bcoz thats the one that has answers. Be reminded that even Chakwera admitted that in this country there is only one person who has powers and this is APM, so he has made his determination. Therefore if u have been doubting and u still doubt just wait a bit to see what comes out. My take is; let me agree with APM that security should start at community level that is all the residents around where there is an albino should be always alert and be able to question any strange persons among them. Monga anachitira is it ku chitipa kuti the community scared away those who wanted to abduct the albino child that is quite commendable and all other communities should emulate this. Iam equally concerned with what is happening to u our fellow brothers and sisters. With me i advocate for death sentence to anyone found guilty of killing someone deliberately either albino or non-albino. Finally, yes as malawians let us not politicise this issue instead lets join hands together and we can deal with this.
God heal our land.
Nkholo silimasakha kuti ndaonana ndi wakuti sindikufunanso kuonana ndi wakuti yet onsewo ndi ana ako, death sentence is there brother, werenganso malamulo kulibe ndi recall provision bansi section 64, let them what they want to there father, why killing munthu wakuti amafuna atiuze zoona mu cell, mpakana pano simunena kuti what happen? who does that? who is behind that? for what reasons? Osamangoti zalowa ndale uli ndi mwana iwe wina abwere adzakubere usiku uno tione ngati simulira inu.
The DPP and the president turned the issue into politicking as they tried to distract people from Chakwera’s statement instead of concentrating on APAM issues. They went further to create a splinter group thereby complicating the whole issue. If APM has the powers as indicated here where has he been all this time without exercising those powers. Isn’t this sleeping on duty!! Mpaka kuthawa anthu m’malo mongokumana nawo. Chakwera is not amongst the demostrators and these mere citizen equal to those the president has gone to canvas votes in the north. What will APM loose if he meets them? This is where I like Bakili Muluzi because if he was him he would have met them headon ndikucheza nawonso bwinobwino. APM lacks advise on how best he can touch base with the people. Mukungomuwuza zoti adzichita mantha paliponse.
Bwana president bweranikoni ku mpoto uko. Kutsegulira madzi is not for you. Even your ministers are too big for that. It can ably be handled by the office of the DCs. No wonder the Zambians mock us for having a president wotsegulira chimbudzi…..
mmmmmmmm bodza.mmafuna asamayende? umbuli bwanji
So the same president who was not happy to be labelled a coward has run away from the people with albinism and is using the police to intimidate them? SMH. Chakwera was tight after all.
tight? go back to school.who is Chakwera,a ran away pastor,with no future in politics
Muthalika is finished with PWA
APM doesnt care hes bust campaigning taxpayers funded water projects even painting blue on this project like they used dpp money! No shame at all! If I were Peter I would leave that for the DC to commision and I would humble myself to meet the APAM and them at they vigil and have a word. Saved taxpayers money and also took the second step in solving the ‘National Crisis” But gladly am not that old granny.
Ironically let it be put to you You were invited for a discussion by the president and you refused and now you are giving him deadlines…Haha
Invited in good faith or what? It was not all about meeting them it was all about making action to deal with syndicate from the bottom, kukumana ndinafedwa sindiye kuti mwathetsa nthenda yomwe yagwa pamudzi? Uko timati kupepesa, Koma kupeza choyenera kuti nthendayo yomwe ikutha anthu pamudzi ithe, ndichimene abale anthu amafuna.
umbuli
Some of the so called CSO are just wolves in a sheep’s skin! These are government opponents hiding behind CSOs. Some are also involved in the killing s just to sabotage the government! But what they forget is there is God! What ever you do will one day be exposed! You can’t kill an innocent soul and go escort free! God is watching!
Mkwichi can never be 2 km from State House…These threats will no longer work…You think the president would be intimidated?This Mtambo guy has misled these albinos.
akudziwapo kanthu awa asatinamize fotski
OUR PRESIDENT IS VERY OLD….TOO OLD TO CONTROL STATE BUSNESS
You are blind you can’t read between the lines.Look at how albinos have been stupufied by Mtambo.They are now sleeping at Mkwichi,when the President had organised a meeting with them at State House.They wanted to meet him and he allowed them and they refused,what is it exactly that Mtambo wants from the President? This is not albino issue at all it is about Mtambo trying his muscles on the President it’s purely personal.Mtambo is an enemy of progress.