The Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) has condemned Tonse Alliance Presidential Candidate Lazarus Chakwera for failing to apologies to Malawians over atrocities committed by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) regime.
CHRR Acting Executive Director, Michael Kaiyatsa made the statement on Thursday as the country was celebrating the life of first President of Malawi Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda.
“MCP cannot bury its head in the sand and hope the problem will go away. The 19, 000 plus people demanding justice and their families will still be there. If nothing is done, this issue will haunt them later, “said Kaiyatsa in a statement.
The authoritarian rule of Banda, who died in 1997, saw thousands of Malawians freeing into exile, politicians being killed , and complete clampdown of rights, no press freedom and a reign of terror.
Recently, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered government, through the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), to issue an apology to members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who were exiled and lost property after becoming a banned organization during the MCP era.
The Ombudsman further ordered government to construct a Community Centre and a monument in Moto Village in Mangochi where the whole community of villagers was arrested up to two years following the Henry Masauko Chipembere uprising of 1971.
How many times should an apology be given on the alleged atrocities which Kamuzu Banda and his regime did. There already evidence that the former president himself apologised to Malawians for the bad things that were done by his close members. His apology was enough and no one today can give more convincing apology than the one that was given by the former president himself!
Chakwera shouldn’t apologise for offenses that were not done by him! MCP isn’t a person but which had members of diverse characters. Not all of them were killers, but a few individuals were responsible for atrocities that perfomed?.
Dr. Chakwera, I hope you were availed with a publication by the Office of the Ombudsman titled
MALAWI’S UNHEALED WOUNDS
A REPORT ON AN INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS OF MALADMINISTRATION AND OTHER IRREGULARITIES BY MALAWI GOVERNMENT OVER THE MANNER IN WHICH THE NATIONAL COMPENSATION TRIBUNAL WAS SET UP, OPERATED AND WOUND UP
OCTOBER 2017
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