The shit is hitting the fan, Ma-afrika vukani.
Begin forwarded message:
From: Roshnee Narrandes <[email protected]>
Date: 26 July 2011 1:48:11 PM
To: News <[email protected]>
Cc: Grace Nkhoma <[email protected]>, Richard Lee <[email protected]>
Subject: BROWN BAG: Is Another Malawi Possible?
Is Another Malawi Possible?
29 July 2011
Brown Bag Session – 14h00-16h00
Venue
: OSISA Boardroom
The events of 20 July – when violence, looting and deaths marred
national protests over poor economic and democratic governance – are
uncharacteristic of Malawi, a country that has enjoyed relative calm
for the past 47 years of independence. The big question now is –
what next?
What? You are invited to a brown bag session on 29 July in the OSISA
boardroom – 1 Hood Street, Rosebank. The briefing will be conducted
under Chatham House rules so nothing can be directly attributed to
anyone in the room.
Who? Dr Edge Kanyongolo, a lecturer at the Law School at the
University of Malawi;
Francis Ng’ambi, independent consultant and political analyst;
Undule Mwakasungula, Director of Centre for Human Rights and
Rehabilitation;
Kondwani Munthali, a Nation newspaper reporter who was beaten and
briefly detained.
RSVP Please RSVP to [email protected] Thursday, 28 July 2011. We
apologies for the late invitation but this has been arranged urgently.
The government of President Bingu wa Mutharika enjoyed a landslide
victory in the 2009 elections following a successful first term,
when Malawi managed to address persistent hunger and achieved good
economic growth. But sadly his second term has been a completely
different story as his government has undermined many basic rights
and freedoms – by restraining the media, limiting protests, and
passing a number of other oppressive laws that violate the
constitution. Poor economic policies have resulted in acute foreign
currency and fuel shortages. And the government’s response to
growing discontent has been to threaten critics and particularly
civil society activists.
Over recent months, faith-based groups, academics and civil society
organisations have all petitioned the government – urging the
authorities to halt the trend towards authoritarianism and a return
to the bad old days of one party rule. But the government has simply
blamed its opponents.
With no solution in sight, thousands of people took to the streets
on 20 July – in a series of marches that had long been planned and
advertised. Ironically, the same government that passed a law
outlawing ex parte injunctions against the government granted an
injunction to a single citizen to stop the demonstrations taking
place. This clear manipulation of the justice system angered many
when it was announced to those gathered to march the next day.
Unfortunately, violence ensued with buildings being set on fire and
looted. The police used live ammunition among other weapons to try
and control the situation – and 18 people died in the process.
Days after the demonstration, the government remains unapologetic
with the president publicly threatening to ‘smoke out’ the
organisers of the match. Arrest warrants for treason are apparently
going to be issued to some civil society leaders, including Undule
Mwakasungula, McDonald Sembereka, Rafik Hajat and Benedict Kondowe,
as well as the Vice-President, Joyce Banda, and some opposition
political leaders.
So the question is what next? Government has been given three weeks
to respond to a petition handed over during the match but it is
unlikely any positive response will be provided – so follow-up
protests are being discussed. But will this just result in more
bloodshed? Or will the president listen to reason – and his people –
and change course? Will the people of Malawi remain steadfast in
their desire to see a return to genuine democracy? Or will we see
another Zimbabwe in Malawi?
Join us for this important brown bag session to hear the insights of
the four panellists. This is an open invitation so please feel free
to pass it on to yours colleagues and networks.
Roshnee Narrandes
Civil Society Partnerships Programme Manager
Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa
1st Floor, President Place
1 Hood Avenue / 148 Jan Smuts Avenue
Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa
PO Box 678, Wits, 2050
tel: +27 (0) 11 587 5000
fax: +27 (0) 11 587 5099
web: www.osisa.org
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