Persons with albinism group rejects Mutharika again: ‘Our demands are an open secret’

February 27, 2019 Wanga Gwede - Nyasa Times 35 Comments

The Association of People with Albinism in Malawi (Apam) has again rejected an invitatio to meet President Peter Mutharika at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe for “dialogue” before their protest vigils slated for March 6 to 8 at State House, saying the President should address their demands which are “an open secret”.

Kondowe: Mutharika and his ministers are peddling lies on the security of people with albinism

A presidential adviser on non-governmental organisations Mavuto Bamusi and chairperson of the Presidential Taskforce on People With Albinism, Hetherwick Ntaba, who is also a presidential aide asked Apam executive and trustees to meet Mutharika twice last week but the invitations was turned down.

On Tuesday, Chief Secretary in the Office of President and Cabinet Lloyd Muhara issued a communication seen by Nyasa Times inviting the Persons With Albinism and other stakeholders  to a dialogue meeting with President Mutharika this Thursday.

But Apam president Overstone Kondowe in a statement made available to Nyasa Times  declined the fresh invitation.

Kondowe said Mutharika should address their demands as contained in several petitions about the challenges people with albinism [PWAs] face which were submitted to him.

“Specifically , we demand the immediate implementation of the National Action Plan which sets out clear parameters on how the myriad challenges must be addressed. Government is on record to have committed K3 billion,” reads the statement from APam in part.

“As Apam, this is the central focus of our core demands. It is our view that this does not necessitate another forum as our demands are an open secret,” it adds.

Apam’s refusal to meet the President before the planned vigils comes days after the association withdrew from the Ntaba-chaired task force following Minister of Homeland Security Nicholas Dausi’s remarks that atrocities against PWAs had not reached levels where they should hold vigils at State House or seek asylum abroad.

Dausi has apologised and withdrawn his insensitive remarks.

But the association which has also met several stakeholders, including the country’s Vice-President Saulos Chilima who also leads UTM Party and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera, say  the honourable thing for Dausi to do would be resigning as minister.

Commentator Stanley Onjezani Kenani  Has said APAM)l  is right in turning down the “made-for-the-cameras” meeting with the President, “whose half-hearted attempts at ending the killings of people with albinism leave no one in doubt that there will be no tangible outcome. “

He wrote on Facebook: “They will provide Fanta, no doubt. Then they will make empty speeches in which they will express their ‘commitment’ to the security of persons with albinism. After that, they will pose for MBC TV and newspaper cameras, then everyone will go home.

“The real reason the President wants to meet them is to stem the political fall-out from his casual approach of handling the situation. He wants votes, not their well-being.

“Two weeks ago, the president told the nation blatant lies that he had ordered the Police to step up patrols, and that the army too had been ordered to help. His cabinet minister ridiculed the cause of albinism, and some accused people are pointing fingers at the government as being behind the killings. So far suspects in two killings committed ‘suicide’, while the third was murdered by the police only last week.”

Kenani says he sees no sense of urgency in this, except lies and mockery and a desperate attempt to give an impression that something is being done to stop the killings.

Meanwhile, Apam’s planned vigils are scheduled to be preceded by a solidarity march from Lilongwe Community Centre ground through Parliament Building to Kamuzu Palace to petition the President.

 

 

 

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35 replies on “Persons with albinism group rejects Mutharika again: ‘Our demands are an open secret’”

  1. Iwe Kondowe ukunamizidwatu..chenicheni ukufuna ndi chiani? vigil or protection? ukayambe kwanuko vigil yakoyo ndikuphunzitsanso onse akumakugulitsani wo..ngakhale ulilire asayilamu….tafunsa omwe akhalako ku England zomwe amachita azungu kunnyoza munthu wokuda….kwake..ukuganiza kuti akakulemekezako???? think twice before you become a puppet to those fueling you to decline dialogue with the president.
    What you should do is :
    1) Sign a declaration of LOVING by all parents / relatives that are keeping / parenting any of you.
    2) Sign a declaration of PROTECTION by Communities that are keeping any of you
    3) Sign a declaration of REPORTING ANY EVIL INTENT TO POLICE & VILLAGE CHIEFS any attempt to sell any of you by your relatives
    4) Sign a declaration for GOOD HEALTH ASSISTANCES eg sun screen lotion / medicines / overhang hats / caps / long dresses / sun glasses etc
    These 4 Pillars will undoubtedly give you comfort and sail through in life

  2. Asatitayise nthawi away! Akhale after all they are in minority! So why do you want to hold a Virgil at the state House? Why can’t they find their own security?

    1. I hope your clan has stopped producing children and I hope your children do not carry the gene that causes albanism

  3. So why did President Mutharika appoint Ntaba to be a Task Force Chairperson while on the other hand Ntaba is alleged to be among the albino killers.

    Are we really serious in trying to find out the truth of the matter? Really?

    Shame!!!!!

  4. Let me tell you Mr Overstone Kondowe and your APAM of a thing, those people giving you money are misleading you. Do not think that you kick out MUTHALIKA out of his presidential seat, thats a lie. You are now becoming greedy. You are getting funds from other political parties to cling on your decision, you will regret. You better cooperate and work with Government to be secured………..muwauzenso azibale anu amene amakusungani mmakomo mwanumo kuti azikutetezani osati azikuphani ayiii. Security starts at your home.

  5. APAM has lost direction

    I was listening to zodiac program shortly… an interview with Kondowe, ‘we will do the vigil till the president comes out and speak to us’. ndiye apa akukaniranji kukumana naye?

    does the issue here make any sense?
    much as we are not happy to hear about their myriad demise, still is irrational to deny discussions with someone whom you are always crying upto for help.

    kwenikweni APAM ikufuna chani?

  7. The old saying goes 100 people can force a Cow to drink but cannot drink if it doesn’t want. Yet one person can take 100 cows to drink without any force. The government need to be commended for inviting APAM for the meeting to discuss and iron out the differences. Malawians have all witnessed this and the government need not to worry anymore. Let the APAM president, opposition and CSOs hold the Vigil as per their desire. We will watch them and see what they will yield at the end. (Mwana akalilira Nyanga ya nsasi, umusemere imfotere yekha. Guys it is your constitutional right to hold vigil, go ahead bola don’t regret in the end. Kondowe ndi wamakani kuyambira kale nkhutukumve.

  8. Go ahead. The president must do his job. osamangogona tulo. This government is a government of press statements. No tangible action. Talking too much with nothing tangible on the ground. No votes….

  10. Kudos to APAM for refusing to meet Mutharika and his circus. Akufuna akakulipileni, ask UNIMA students who were dressed down like kids. Tanamizidwa mokwanila Amalawi and we need to guard against political rhetoric. So many empty promises and not even 2% has been delivered. Mutharika is not fit for that office and He will do anything just to secure another 5 year holiday at the State House at the expense of the taxpayer.

  11. But if you don’t want to meet the government then go and make a vigil kumene mukudziwa kuti akakuthandizani. Nanga mukachita vigil kwa amene simukufuna kukumana nawo? I think mwazungulita mitu tsopano.

  12. Chanco impulse on my mind when Mr Maliseche was minister of education.

    A very dull and incompetent buffoon.
    A coward who has no answers at all..

    A power hungry bastard who even went to the point of hiding his own brothers dead body kikikiki

    Time for talking is over

  14. If Malawians were like APAM on the Karim, ESCOM State Capture. Rd Traffic Act (Ana Adadi criminal impunity) Malawi Police capture only then Malawi would be like Europe only on law enforcers.

    2. And DPP must fall at all cost. Njaunju, Chasowa and now so many brothers and Sisters with albinism being killed just like chicken. No enough is enough. Malawi is for all and life is very precious. Malawi lets rise and talk, 21st May 2019.

  16. If you agree to meet the beast, you agree to be devoured one by one until all of you get finished in Malawi.
    You will not even enjoy the cash that you will be corrupted with.
    Moto sitiserewetsa ambwana!!!!!!!!

  17. APAM is full of people who are greedy, rude and self-seeking. They have allowed their body to be politicised and they are now getting money from here and there. SHAME ON APAM!

    1. Mukunama akuru. Inu mwayenera kukhala a DPP. The problem with your gvt is that it intends to palm-oil APAM so that they may end up remaining none barking dogs while the govt continues its vices and careless govt..

    2. Mphamvu za ulamuliro zakulowa m’bongo…………………………………………………………… sorry if you believe people can’t trace the nonsense in apm’s promises then mwaupondaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Ngati mulibe zochita ingopitani mukakolope Lake Malawi, zoseweletsa miyoyo ya anthu zatikwanaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Zitsiru inu kwambiri

    3. Why is any organisation that is headed by a mbwenumbwenu proving to be a thorn in the flesh? You mean APAM is sacrificing their fellow albinos coz of money?

    5. I think the leadership for this body is foolish. Akutengera chibwana zithuzi thereby putting some innocent people with albinism in danger.

    8. Rather shame on you Banda!!!! Will you have been saying the same thing if you were in danger of being killed any day? Do you know how it feels not to be able to walk around doing your day to day business without fear of being kidnapped?

      Of what use will it be meeting the same government whose controlled Police is systematically killing key witnesses? You should be ashamed of yourself!

    10. sorry bwana APAM is patriotich APAM is not corrupt like you who would rush to bootlink your master every time he wishes.You are the reason we are poor too much wiping big bosses ass.

    11. Sometimes the best action is to take no action, Banda. You have just given us your self assessment above. Not APAM.

    13. you are on point… it seems they have lost sense hence forget what they want. some one is applying propaganda without their knowledge

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