Undule backs Malawi govt-CSO engagement

Veteran human rights activist Undule Mwakasungula has resurfaced in frontline activism with a bold patriotic stand and has welcomed the government- civil society organisations (CSOs) engagement.

Cabinet Ministers called for a government-CSO engagement briefing at the Bingu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe to discuss and respond to concerns some CSOs raised last week on assumed leadership challenges.

But most vocal activists who signed a petition dated 14 October, 2015, asking Malawi President Peter Mutharika to resign, stayed away.

President Mutharika chief economic advisor, Collins Magalasi, told the meeting that it would be better if the signatories of the petition were available.

Magalasi said the CSOs that issued the statement like Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR), Centre for the Development of People (Cedep), Human Rights Defenders Forum, Civil and Political Space were asking for a postponement. But the meeting went ahead.

In his remarks, Mwakasungura commended government for providing the platform for dialogue on socio-economic challenges.

He, however, said CSOs want a platform for constructive engagement in where everyone is involved, not just a few.

Citizen Alliance spokesman Phillip Kamangira also commended government for providing dialogue with ÇSOs.

Council for Non Governmental Organisations in Malawi (Congoma), Maxwell Matewere thanked government for the engagement.

Matewere also promised CSOs continued cooperation and availability on matters of national importance.

Other members from the CSOs who attended the briefing include the youth activist, Edward Chileka Banda, Malawi Economic Justice Network executive director Dalitso Kubalasa and  Forum for National Development directors Bright Kampaundi and Fryson Chodzi.