HRDC sounds alarm on fuel crisis, corruption, human rights

The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has urged the government to address critical governance and socio-economic issues as Malawi faces a challenging end to 2024.

In an end of year statement released on December 31, HRDC National Chairperson Gift Trapence highlighted concerns over ethical leadership, corruption, economic mismanagement, and human rights violations.

The coalition has criticized political parties for allowing individuals with unresolved legal cases to contest for leadership positions, calling it a betrayal of public trust.

“While the principle of presumption of innocence until proven guilty stands firm, permitting such individuals to vie for positions of authority demonstrates a lack of clear ethical guidelines. Political parties must implement binding internal rules to ensure that individuals accused of misconduct clear their names in court before assuming public office. Anything less erodes public trust and undermines the credibility of leadership,” reads the statement.

The HRDC has also labeled Malawi’s ongoing fuel shortage a “manufactured crisis,” citing corruption and poor governance as root causes.

The coalition expressed doubts over the government’s proposed government-to-government fuel procurement plan, warning it might worsen the situation.

“The government’s introduction of a purported government-to-government fuel procurement arrangement as a solution raises more questions than answers. The public deserves transparency, yet the details of this initiative remain shrouded in secrecy. While the government claims to be exploring such an arrangement with Kenya, it must be noted that Kenya abandoned this system because it was deemed unattainable and unsustainable. This raises serious doubts about the feasibility and sincerity of the proposed approach for Malawi,” reads the statement.

Corruption remains a significant obstacle to Malawi’s development, according to the HRDC and has questioned the sudden wealth of some government officials and called for stricter enforcement of the Assets Declaration Act.

The coalition has also criticized the Malawi Police Service for uneven handling of political violence cases citing delayed action against perpetrators targeting anti-government protesters while swiftly arresting those involved in violence against government officials.

“This selective approach fosters distrust in law enforcement and threatens the rule of law. The HRDC demands that the Police demonstrate equal efficiency and impartiality in all cases, regardless of political affiliations or the victims involved,” reads the statement.

The HRDC has blamed poor management of the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) for worsening food insecurity, calling for an urgent overhaul of the program to ensure transparency and efficiency.

The HRDC also raised concerns over the treatment of refugees during recent relocation exercises, calling the actions violations of human dignity and international law.

It urged the government to collaborate with international organizations to support asylum seekers, particularly those fleeing violence in Mozambique.

While critical of governance, the HRDC acknowledged progress in infrastructure development, including roads and hospitals. However, it stressed the need for transparency and inclusivity in such projects.