Maravi

Mutharika must admit that he erred, says Phiri

Mutharika must admit that he erred, says Phiri
By Bright Mukwasa and Chibaula Silwamba
Wed 12 Oct. 2011, 15:10 CAT

PRESIDENT Michael Sata's decision not to travel to Malawi is within international diplomatic norms, says a former Zambian envoy to Malawi. And SACCORD says the unfolding stand-off between Zambia's President Sata and the Malawian government is a serious matter which requires urgent attention.

In an interview, Milton Phiri, former high commissioner to Botswana and Malawi, said the move by President Sata to turn down an invitation to attend the Comesa heads of state summit taking place in Malawi was within normal diplomatic etiquette.

"President Sata cannot go to a country where he was harassed for being an opposition leader now that he has assumed Presidency of the republic without that country's formal apology to normalise diplomatic relations with it. Let President Bingu wa Mutharika swallow his pride and offer an unconditional apology to the President and the people of Zambia," Phiri said.

"This kind of a situation there is no way you can conduct business... everything becomes abnormal until a formal apology is offered by that government. At one time he wa Mutharika was a chief diplomat as chief executive of Comesa in this region so he should be in a better position to understand international relations. He does not have to find excuses here and there, let him just apologise."

Phiri said Michael Sata was now leader of a sovereign state and represented a sovereign people of Zambia and for that reason he deserved respect and recognition by other sovereign states, Malawi included.

He said President wa Mutharika must admit that he made a serious diplomatic error because even as leader of the opposition political party, Sata deserved respect and recognition as that was what amounted to democracy in any sovereign state.

"His President Sata freedoms and rights were trampled upon by the Malawian government. Let me remind wa Mutharika that his country is not going to be the first country to do so in this region. Chakufwa Chihana late Malawian opposition politician and trade union activist was at one time declared a prohibited Immigrant] by the Republic of Botswana. Immediately he was appointed second vice-president and minister of agriculture by then president Dr Bakili Muluzi his status was changed and normalised by the president of the Republic of Botswana."

Phiri said President wa Mutharika was schooled enough to understand and appreciate diplomatic practices and international relations as a yardstick in the conduct of international affairs.

And Southern Africa for the Constructive Resolutions of Conflicts and Disputes executive director Lee Habasonda said the stalemate was raising serious concerns as the matter had degenerated into a diplomatic gaffe and has the potential to negatively impact on the relations between the two countries if it was not addressed with haste and necessary diplomatic tact.

"We call upon Comesa to use its good offices to ensure that this matter, arising out of their summit in Malawi is addressed in the spirit of the desire to deepen regional integration and international cooperation. While the Zambian people will be represented through those delegated by the head of state, our assumption is that there were compelling reasons the summit invited heads of state and governments," Habasonda said.

"The failure by the Zambian head of state to attend the meeting as a protest is instructive and we believe Comesa as an inter-governmental body is best suited to intervene and help the situation. SACCORD is concerned about this matter for a couple of reasons; firstly, the stand-off creates tension at the level of Heads of states. This can consequently affect cooperation at all tiers of government."

Habasonda said the stand-off could affect how ordinary people would begin to relate to each other especially at border points and affect the levels of regional integration and cooperation.

"We urge for extreme caution and possibly direct communication between the two Presidents to resolve the matter so as to assure the citizens of the two countries that things are normal. We believe that this matter should no longer be left to the two countries' diplomats alone but the Heads of States themselves under the guidance of Comesa.

Comesa has in place a committee of elders who can ably speak to the two Presidents and ensure that the fallout is managed," he said.

"This altercation has provided two lessons for the Comesa region; the first one being that it exposes the levels of integration and cooperation in the region. The second one is that there are still prejudices against leaders of opposition parties in the region and there is need to ensure that this challenge is addressed among the member states."

President Sata demanded an apology over his deportation and the revocation of the prohibited immigrant declaration imposed on him in 2007.

Labels: BINGU WA MUTHARIKA, COMESA, MALAWI, SACCORD

posted by MrK @ 7:39 PM