Lubinda questions troubled Malawi’s President’s visit

Lubinda questions troubled Malawi’s President’s visit
By Agness Changala
Sat 30 July 2011, 14:00 CAT

PRESIDENT Bingu wa Mutharika should have turned down the invitation to officiate at this year’s Zambia Agriculture and Commercial Show following the crisis in his country, says immediate past Kabwata member of parliament Given Lubinda. Last week, 19 people were killed during demonstrations against economic hardships and bad governance by President Mutharika’s government.

In an interview yesterday, Lubinda, who is also PF chairperson for local government said it was unfortunate and irresponsible for President Mutharika to come and have fun in Zambia when his people were suffering.

Lubinda said even if President Banda invited President Mutharika long before the occurrence of killings, after the crisis, he should have been replaced to allow him sort out problems in his own country.

“Unfortunately these are traits of the club that both Rupiah and Mutharika belong to,” he said. “I recall that when people died in Mongu, Rupiah equally undertook international trips.”

Lubinda said President Banda and his counterpart President Mutharika were best friends and their thinking is the same.

He said the decision by President Banda to invite President Mutharika to officiate at this year’s show would annoy Malawians living in Zambia who were opposed to what was happening in that country.

“They will feel bad that their President will come to attend a funfare, eat and celebrate when his people are suffering,” Lubinda said. “They will also be upset with Rupiah and the Zambians.”

Lubinda said responsible leaders prioritised internal security and harmony of their country as opposed to President Banda and others who placed priority on international trips.

He said apart from civil servants, those who would go to the show, will go to see the man who has left his house on fire to come and attend a fanfare if he shows up.

And the Southern Africa Development Community Council of Non- Governmental Organisations (SADC-CNGO) has condemned the killing of people in Malawi during the demonstration.

The organisation said the beatings, torture and inhuman treatment that civil society leaders, journalists and innocent civilians had suffered at the hands of the Malawian police should be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

It also expressed concern that the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has issued a ban, stopping all private radio stations from broadcasting live the demonstrations that were taking place.

It said the governance and human rights trends in Malawi should be reviewed to prevent the further deterioration of the situation, killings of innocent civilians and reversal of the modest gains that SADC region had made in trying to promote good governance, peace and stability.

The organisation also called on Malawi’s law enforcement agents to refrain from use of force and fire arms against peaceful demonstrator.

Malawians were demonstrating against increasing human rights violation, repression and failure by the government to solve the deepening social economic crisis characterised by fuel and foreign currency shortages, higher cost of living, massive unemployment and high constrained fiscal space.