By Isaac Salima
President Lazarus Chakwera has said the relationship that the country has with other countries has enabled it to address challenges, citing those caused by Tropical Cyclone Freddy.
Chakwera said, for example, that Malawians that suffered from the effects of Tropical Cyclone Freddy benefitted from the timely assistance offered by other countries that have warm relations with Malawi.
The President made the remarks at Chigumukire Primary School ground in Chileka, Blantyre, yesterday, during commemorations marking International Human Rights Day.
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“I know that our pursuit of international support is often politicised and sensationalised by some, but any call for Malawi to abandon international platforms in the name of saving money is irresponsible. The fact remains that the amount of support-money we have received by going abroad to secure help for suffering Malawians is 50 times more than what we have spent, because we know that the responsible thing to do is to recognise that we cannot fight climate change on our own and we cannot restore the citizen rights that climate change has eroded on our own,” Chakwera said.
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He also commended the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) for having a great impact on the ground despite having limited resources.
“This is why our third commitment to strengthen oversight bodies is so important. If you look at the Malawi Human Rights Commission and the work that Ms. Habiba Osman and the commissioners have done with limited resources, you cannot help but be inspired. Not only have they successfully investigated multiple human rights cases across the country, but they have ensured that Malawi’s seat on the UN [United Nations] Human Rights Council and Malawi’s A-Status as a top-class human rights adherent are retained.
“And yet the work that our laws demands of the Malawi Human Rights Commission is enormous, including the full implementation of the Access to Information Act, which, if supported, would curb other ills like corruption and nip them in the bud so that we are not forced to fight them when the damage has already been done,” Chakwera said.
Speaking at the event, MHRC Commissioner Teresa Ndanga decried lack of local support in the execution of their duties.
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Ndanga said 75 percent of the funds they used to handle 493 cases this year came from donors, with the country only contributing 25 percent.
“We are pleased with the donor support that has allowed us to handle almost 500 cases. We are not getting enough financial support from the government to look into them. It is good that the President has committed that MHRC will be among those that will be adequately funded,” Ndanga.
She further said the day gives the country an opportunity to reflect, and improve, on gains made and work on shortfalls.
And, speaking on Sunday during a press briefing in Blantyre, Ndanga asked Chakwera to address challenges such as foreign exchange shortage, effects of the 44 percent devaluation of the Kwacha and drug shortage in hospitals.
