Stand up against Mutharika, says Malawi rights body CEDEP

Malawi  citizens require courage to take  “action”  against the economic turmoil  in the country and must urge President Peter Mutharika to clearly explain to Malawians what he and his government are doing to take the country out of its numerous problems, a local human rights body in Malawi has said.

The Centre for Development of People (Cedep) urge  Malaiwans not to  keep their heads down, protecting narrow self-interest but stand up for their rights as things fall apart in Malawi, saying the country belongs to each and every Malawian.

“Nothing will really change with just discussions on the worsening state of affairs only on social media. There is a need for action,” urges Cedep executive director Gift Trapence in a statement made available to Nyasa Times.

Trapence said President Mutharika and the government take Malawians “for granted” due to a culture of silence.

“ It is high time we stood up for our rights. Today is the tomorrow we would like to see,” reads the statement in part.

President Mutharika on Monday night went on taxfunded Malawi Broadcasting Corporation television and radio to outline a list of public investment programmes aimed at bailing the country out of socio-economic woes.

But  CEDEP branded Mutharika’s national address as a missed opportunity to inspire hope in Malawians.

The organisation observed that Mutharika failed and instead he focused on “petty and negligible” issues.

It also noted that in 35-minute national address, Mutharika fell short of outlining a road map on how such ambitious programmes would be financed.

While acknowledging the challenges facing the country, the President said accepting the presence of problems was the first step in solving them.