Even If Mutharika Dances On Water, HRDC Will Still Complain Of Dust

There would normally be nothing extraordinary about the leaders of the opposition parties and those of Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) describing the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government as complacent and incompetent on a certain issue.

Indeed, in normal times, it would hardly be news. But as Malawi faces a covid-19 pandemic, the HRDC and opposition leaders have to adjust a little bit. 

Much as I appreciate the efforts of HRDC leaders in holding the government accountable of its actions, a series of events that have been occurring before and after May 21, 2019 elections, point to the fact that the human rights “defenders” are just rivals of the Peter Mutharika administration.

They will accuse Mutharika of raising dust even if he dances on water. This is a fact that people have severally chosen to ignore thereby rendering themselves as HRDC’s ladders in their pursuit of selfish ambitions.

Something striking happened on Friday about Malawians doing exactly above. They went into wild cerebration following Judge Kenyatta Nyirenda’s decision to grant HRDC an injunction blocking the covid-19 lockdown imposed by DPP-led government as a measure to contain the deadly coronavirus; a virus that has exposed the weakness of the health system of the first world countries. 

 Gift Trapence and friends were heroes on Friday. APM who decided to lockdown the country to basically protect the lives of people was labeled different unprintable names.

But let me tell you this in the face: neither HRDC nor opposition is sincere with covid-19 fight. In fact, HRDC advances the interests of the opposition parties on the basis of promoting human rights and good governance.

They might exaggerate the government shortfalls but they will never give credit when the government rises to the occasion. The government may politicize the pandemic but the HRDC and opposition parties are not only politicizing but also putting the lives of many Malawians at risk in their pursuit of political ambitions.

These two entities have been working together all along and their ultimate goal is to see Mutharika out of plot number 1. Carpetbagger, fifth columnist (pick your own terminology) that’s where HRDC leaders belong.

They may ask for inclusivity in fighting the pandemic but using words like “acting president” clearly demonstrates that they are not being sincere. In this crisis we would expect opposition parties, CSOs joining hands with government but they can’t.

 The later feel more comfortable working in isolation so as to fool Malawians that they have brilliant ideas on how to handle the issue at hand only that the government is sidelining them.

It is time for this to change. We need HRDC that cares and works to improve our reality, not focused on creating an alternate one. The HRDC must serve its purest democratic aim: to genuinely improve government policy, rather than simply undermining it. The tug-of-war is no longer necessary at this point! We have a common enemy in our midst.

Lockdown, a measure that was announced by the government on Tuesday, is the only mechanism that Malawi needs as the number of cases of the coronavirus escalates. It is a measure that has proved to be effective in different countries.

 Therefore, what a responsible human rights group would do was to politely present the concerns to the authority, rather than completely trashing the government’s effort in combating the novel coronavirus.

 I agree in totality with your proposal that the government must put in place safety measures to cushion the undesirable impacts of the lockdown, but the manner in which you expressed such important issues leaves a lot to be desired.

Those with well frame of mind can clearly see that your sole purpose is not to complement government’s effort but humiliating the leadership of Peter Mutharika.

For countless individuals and families in first world countries, normal life has already been upended in unimaginable ways due to imposed lockdowns. But the citizens understand the situation because in a crisis drastic measures have to be taken by the authorities. Lockdown is really evil but necessary for our survival.

In a nutshell, as you (Malawians) are celebrating the injunction against lockdown in full view of covid-19, be properly informed that this virus is a real nightmare and when you are attacked, HRDC will not be responsible.

So is the injunction against the lockdown right? The cop-out answer is only time will tell. Yet the outcome is preordained.