(NYASATIMES) ‘No’ to quota system even on gun point –Rev Mezuwa Banda

‘No’ to quota system even on gun point –Rev Mezuwa Banda
By Nyasa Times
Published: January 3, 2010

The Livingstonia Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbeterian (CCAP) say they will continue to oppose the education quota system by government.

General Secretary of the Synod, the Rev. Mezuwa Banda said Police persuaded him to call off the protest against the “discrimantory” system but he refused.

“They wanted to intimidate me but I told them they were appointed by a person while my calling is from God,” Rev Mezuwa said.

The clerics were stopped from protesting by heavily-armed police officers who surrounded the building and erected roadblocks.

Rev Banda said police warned the clerics that they would pull their triggers if they proceeded with the anti quota system march.

However, the cleric said they would fight against the discrimination against people from the north “even at gun point.”

Rev. Maurice Munthali, deputy secretary general of Synod said the quota system is discriminatory in that selection into public learning institutions is based on ethnicity and social origin.

“The CCAP Synod of Livingstonia feels that the policy is only aimed at suffocating the voice and capabilities of a minority group of similar and cultural roots,” he said.

Rev Munthali said it is unfortunate that President Bingu wa Mutharika who is has often referred to the North as a minority group in terms of population (12% of national population), and that it only contributes about 20% of the national GDP.

“Such assertions only qualify the north as a distinct region, hence not wrong to call people from the north a minority group. On this basis, the quota system also defeats the objects of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious or Linguistic Minorities (adopted on 18th December, 1992 under Article 5 Sec 1 Resolution 47/135),” he pointed out.

The Declaration calls for the state ‘to plan and implement national policies and programmes with due regard for the legitimate interests of persons belonging to minorities’.

“The Malawi government is far from fulfilling this obligation by virtue of not listening to the concerns from northerners and other quarters. After all, the test of democracy lies in listening to the voices of the minorities,” said Rev Munthali.